title: [Social medicine expert assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder].
abstract: The concept of a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has become important for psychiatric diagnosis and research, particularly following US-american studies on Vietnam war veterans. Recently, studies on traindrivers involved in suicide accidents have shown symptoms of anxiety and depression in more than 30% of concerned drivers and typical symptoms of a PTSD in 15%. Here, we present the case of a traindriver who was involved in 6 suicide accidents within 17 years of traindriving (the average is 2 suicide accidents). Following the 3rd accident, the driver developed increasingly symptoms like anxiety, sleep disturbances, flashbacks and irritability. Following the 6th accident, he has been unable to work. A former expert opinion saw no relationship between the symptoms of the driver and the suicide accidents. Therefore, further information about the concept of a PTSD seems necessary to ensure early psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatment of patients with such a disorder.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, Klinisches Institut, München.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Antonijevic
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bronisch
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004608:Eligibility Determination / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011890:Railroads; D012943:Social Security / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology