Psychological outcome of injured workers at 3 months after occupational injury requiring hospitalization in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
After a traumatic event, a significant proportion of victims develop psychiatric disorders. Trauma has been an important ailment among workers. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric disorders at three months after occupational injuries.


METHODS
Our study candidates were injured workers in Taiwan who were hospitalized for 3 days or longer and received hospitalization benefits from the Labor Insurance program. A two-staged survey study was conducted. A self-reported questionnaire including the Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-50) and Post-traumatic Symptom Checklist (PTSC) was sent to workers at 3 months after injury. Those who met the criteria were recruited for the second stage phone interview with a psychiatrist using the Mini-international Neuropsychiatrie Interview (MINI).


RESULTS
A total of 2001 workers completed the questionnaire (response rate 45.5%). Among them, 357 (17.8%) fulfilled the criteria for the MINI interview and were invited. A total of 148 (41.5%) completed the phone interview. The estimated rates of PTSD, partial PTSD (PPTSD), major depression, comorbid PTSD/PPTSD and major depression, and either PTSD/PPTSD or major depression were 2.7, 4.1, 3.0, 2.3, and 7.5%, respectively. The estimated rates of either PTSD/PPTSD or major depression among workers who suffered from intracranial injury, fracture, burn, crushing injury, and open wound of upper limbs were 10.4, 6.9, 5.9, 5.8 and 0%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
At three months after occupational injuries, a significant proportion of workers suffered from psychiatric disorders. The rates of psychiatric disorders occurring after intracranial injuries were significantly higher than those occurring after non-intracranial injuries.
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University School of Public Health, Taiwan.
Kuan-Han
KH
Lin
Nai-Wen
NW
Guo
Shih-Cheng
SC
Liao
Chun-Ya
CY
Kuo
Pei-Yi
PY
Hu
Jin-Huei
JH
Hsu
Yaw-Huei
YH
Hwang
Yue Leon
YL
Guo
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices