title: A new development in PTSD and the law: the case of Fairfax County v. Mottram.
abstract: The decision of the Virginia Supreme Court in Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department v. Mottram (2002) has important implications for Workers' Compensation claims for posttraumatic stress disorder, particularly those involving emergency services personnel. A firefighter/paramedic who developed chronic, disabling PTSD after responding to a fatal fire was denied benefits because he had previously reported symptoms of the disorder, whereas the statute recognized a single traumatic incident only. The court held that PTSD resulting from multiple traumatic stressors may be considered a compensable occupational disease analogous to dermatitis developed by a flower shop employee with chronic exposure to irritating stimuli. The decision, which constitutes legal recognition of work-related cumulative PTSD in rescue workers, provides benefits for treatment and encourages earlier treatment of traumatic stress in this group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia 22207-4299, USA. mary.lindahl@marymount.edu
authors.forename: Mary W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lindahl
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014768:Virginia; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*