[Post-traumatic stress disorder following violent events at the workplace. Experiences with patients referred to a department of occupational medicine].
Traumatic events within the working environment are common in certain kinds of jobs. The aim of this study was to describe the size and character of the traumatic event and the circumstances connected to the event in ten consecutively admitted patients to a department of occupational medicine. Furthermore to describe predisposing mental factors, the symptoms following the event and the relation between these symptoms and the symptoms used in the diagnosis of PTSD. It was found that only one of ten patients met all criteria for having the diagnosis of PTSD. Nine of 10 met all the symptom criteria, but the majority did not fulfil the criteria of having experienced an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic event. Several of the patients were characterized as having an anti-aggressive nature and being highly ambitious in their jobs. Symptoms seem to remain for a long time. It was concluded that PTSD may follow even smaller stressful events. Predisposing mental factors and factors connected to the event may be of importance regarding the extent and duration of symptoms. Psychological treatment was experienced as valuable.
Thomsen
J F
JF
Arbejdsmedicinsk klinik og psykiatrisk afdeling P, Amtssygehuset i Glostrup.
Mortensen
B
B
Rask
A
A
Mikkelsen
S T
ST
D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014754:Violence; D017132:Workplace