Graded work exposure to promote work return after severe hand trauma: a replicated study.
Fifty-one patients with posttraumatic stress disorder after work-related hand injuries were placed on a graded work exposure program to facilitate return to work. These patients consisted of an initial group of 25 patients and a replication group of 26 patients. The program returned 92% of the initial group and 88% of the replicated group to work with their previous employers. At 6-month follow-up, 88% of the initial group and 80.1% of the replication group were still working full-time at the jobs to which they had returned. All of the patients not working with their previous employer at follow-up had appraisal/projected flash-backs, which have previously been associated with a 90% failure to return to work. This intervention was successful with 73% of the patients experiencing such flashbacks. In conclusion, graded work exposure was an effective treatment to promote return to work for patients experiencing significant psychological symptomatology after severe hand injury.
Grunert
B K
BK
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Devine
C A
CA
Smith
C J
CJ
Matloub
H S
HS
Sanger
J R
JR
Yousif
N J
NJ
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*