title: Long-term psychological outcome of workers after occupational injury: prevalence and risk factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to examine the prevalence rates of both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression at 12 months in workers experiencing different types of occupational injury in Taiwan. Demographic and injury-related risk factors for psychological symptoms were also evaluated.
  
  
  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 and Post-traumatic Symptom Checklist was sent to workers at 12 months after injury. Those who met the criteria were recruited for the second-stage phone interview with a psychiatrist using the Mini-international Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,233 workers completed the questionnaire (response rate 28.0 %). Among them, 167 (13.5 %) fulfilled the criteria for the MINI interview and were invited. A total of 106 (63.5 %) completed the phone interview. The estimated rate of either PTSD/PPTSD or major depression was 5.2 %. The risk factors for psychological symptoms were female gender, lower education level, loss of consciousness after occupational injury, injury affecting physical appearance, occupational injury experience before this event, life experience before and after this injury, length of hospital stay, self-rated injury severity, and percentage of income to the family.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed that occupational injury can cause long-term psychological impact in workers. Key demographic and injury characteristics may enhance the identification of at-risk occupational injured workers who would benefit from targeted screening and early intervention efforts.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, School of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Kuan-Han
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Judith Shu-Chu
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Shiao
authors.forename: Nai-Wen
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Shih-Cheng
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Chun-Ya
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Pei-Yi
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jin-Huei
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Yaw-Huei
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Yue Leon
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D055815:Young Adult