But vicarious trauma goes beyond that, said Dr. Frank Ochberg, former associate director of the National Institute of Mental Health.

CNN: Treating trauma victims may cause its own trauma

Some people who are subject to vicarious trauma actually see the crash scene in the media and actively put themselves in the scenario.

CNN: Seeing crash reports can worsen flying phobia

The symptoms of vicarious trauma -- stress, social withdrawal, sensitization to televised violence -- are not enough to make people violent themselves, said Barbara Rothbaum, director of the Trauma and Anxiety Recovery Program at Emory Medical School.

CNN: Treating trauma victims may cause its own trauma

The symptoms of vicarious trauma, also called secondary traumatic stress, parallel those of direct trauma, said Laurie Anne Pearlman, former president of the Trauma Research, Education, and Training Institute Inc. and author of several books about vicarious trauma.

CNN: Treating trauma victims may cause its own trauma