On-site work evaluations: desensitisation for avoidance reactions following severe hand injuries.
This study examined on-site work evaluations as an environmental exposure strategy to promote return to work in 15 recalcitrant patients who had failed to benefit from established methods of reducing post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Following the on-site work evaluation, 87% of these patients were able to use visualisation of the work setting to further desensitize themselves and returned to work within the next eight weeks. All 87% have continued to be employed at six and twelve month follow-ups. This approach holds promise for assisting patients with hand injuries who develop post-traumatic stress disorder and fail to respond to traditional psychological strategies.
Grunert
B K
BK
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Devine
C A
CA
McCallum-Burke
S
S
Matloub
H S
HS
Sanger
J R
JR
Yousif
N J
NJ
D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000628:therapy*