Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Workplace: A Descriptive study of workers experiencing PTSD resulting from work injury.
A recent review of literature on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) revealed that work-related PTSD was relatively understudied. This article retrospectively examined the claims of 44 workers who were approved for workers’ compensation benefits in British Columbia. Only workers who were found to have PTSD without significant coexisting physical injury were included in this study. Claim files were coded on several variables, including precipitating trauma, presence of concurrent psychiatric disorders, and treatment of psychological symptoms.
Results of this study indicated that most subjects (82%) had directly experienced a traumatic event, while the remaining 18% had witnessed one. Over half of those directly experiencing on-the-job trauma had been involved in an armed robbery. Another 30% had been involved in a non-robbery assault. Claimants were ranked on type and frequency of PTSD symptoms. Over 96% of subjects reported difficulty staying or falling asleep. Also common were distress over reminders of the trauma (89%) and avoidance of places or activities associated with the trauma (86%). The remaining 45 % had a comorbid psychological disorder, most typically depression. Return-to-work status was also investigated. Over 40% returned to work for their previous employer. Thirty-four percent did not return to work whatsoever.
Findings indicated both the debilitating effects of PTSD and the need for improved treatment interventions. The authors were most struck by the inability of a significant proportion of individuals to return to work, despite not being physically injured. Nearly all (94%) of subjects received psychological/psychiatric treatment for PTSD. This study was limited by its retrospective design and relatively small sample size. Further research was suggested to investigate factors associated with negative return-to-work outcome.
MacDonald, H., Colotla, V., Flamer, S., & Karlinsky, H. (2003). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Workplace: A Descriptive study of workers experiencing PTSD resulting from work injury. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 13 (2), 63-77.
