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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Workplace: A Descriptive Study of Workers Experiencing PTSD Resulting from Work Injury

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Abstract

In view of the relatively understudied status of work-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this study retrospectively examined 44 workers whose claims were accepted for workers' compensation benefits in the absence of significant coexisting physical injuries. The majority of workers (82%) directly experienced the traumatic event while the rest witnessed the event. Over half (54%) of those directly experiencing the event were involved in armed robberies, whereas 38% were physically or verbally assaulted in nonrobbery situations. Almost half of the workers were assigned a coexisting mood or anxiety diagnosis. Psychoactive medication was prescribed to 66% of workers, and 93% of all workers received some form of psychological/psychiatric treatment. Twenty-three percent of the group received vocational rehabilitation assistance and only 43% returned to their previous job with the accident employer. Findings suggest that work-related PTSD is both complex and disabling and merits further investigation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Heather A. MacDonald

  2. Department of Psychology, Workers', Compensation Board of British Columbia, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

    Victor Colotla & Stephen Flamer

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Harry Karlinsky

Authors
  1. Heather A. MacDonald
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  2. Victor Colotla
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  3. Stephen Flamer
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  4. Harry Karlinsky
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MacDonald, H.A., Colotla, V., Flamer, S. et al. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Workplace: A Descriptive Study of Workers Experiencing PTSD Resulting from Work Injury. J Occup Rehabil 13, 63–77 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022563930482

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022563930482

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