Post-traumatic stress disorder in occupational settings: anticipating and managing the risk



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Post-traumatic stress disorder in occupational settings: anticipating and managing the risk

1. Alexander C. McFarlane1 and
   
2. Richard A. Bryant2

+ Author Affiliations

1. ¹Centre of Military and Veterans Health, University of Adelaide, 122 Frome Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
   
2. ²School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052, Australia
   

1. Correspondence to: Alexander C. McFarlane, Centre of Military and Veterans Health, University of Adelaide, 122 Frome Street,
   Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia. Tel: +61 303 5200; fax: +61 303 5368; e-mail: alexander.mcfarlane@adelaide.edu.au

 

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Abstract

Background Post-traumatic
stress disorder has had a substantial impact on employer liability for
workplace psychological injury. The
emergency services are an example of high-risk
workforces that demand clear policies and procedures within an
organization.
The challenge is to minimize the injury to
individuals and lessen the cost to organizations through the optimal
application
of preventative strategies.

Methods This field is not
well represented in standard keyword searches and Medline was examined
with linked fields of practice and
research. Consensus guidelines that refer to this
domain were also utilized. Few conclusions can be reached from the
literature
which directly examined occupational settings.

Results Organizations
need to anticipate the possible traumatic exposures that may affect the
workforce and have strategies to deal
with the effects in the workplace, particularly the
negative mental health outcomes in some personnel. This domain is
relevant
to all employers as accidents and violence are
possible in most workplaces. Screening should be considered for
high-risk individuals,
particularly following a major traumatic event or
cumulative exposure, such as in the emergency services. While
psychological
debriefing has no demonstrated benefit, the
benefits of early intervention necessitate ready access to
evidence-based treatments
that have minimum barriers to care. Employers
should be aware that distress may present indirectly in a similar way as
conflict
with management, poor performance and poor general
health.

Conclusion The knowledge about the impact of traumatic events obliges employers to have an active strategy to anticipate and manage
the aftermath of such events as well as cumulative traumatic exposures."