Which of the following is a symptom of critical incident trauma?

Emotional distancing is recognized as a symptom of critical incident trauma because it reflects a common psychological response to overwhelming stress or distressing experiences. When individuals experience a critical incident, such as a traumatic event or a highly stressful situation, they may cope by emotionally distancing themselves from those feelings as a protective mechanism. This can involve a sense of detachment from one's emotions, the event, or even from others, as a way to manage the pain or fear associated with the trauma.

In contrast, heightened awareness is often a state of being alert and vigilant, which may be a response to an immediate threat but does not directly indicate trauma. Improved communication skills and increased teamwork are typically viewed as positive outcomes or skills that can develop in response to effective training and supportive environments, rather than being specific symptoms of trauma. Thus, emotional distancing is the appropriate choice as it directly correlates with the impact of critical incident trauma on an individual's mental and emotional state.