[Impact of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and their intensity on patients working ability]

After the war in Croatia, many people are suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of this research was to analyse the impact of symptoms of PTSD and their intensity on working ability of those patients. Two groups of patients with PTSD hospitalized at Psychiatric Department of osijek Clinical Hospital were interviewed. The first one consisted of 80 patients who were (by psychiatrist) estimated as able to work, and the second of 80 patients who were estimated as unable to work. In this research we used ICD-10 classification for diagnosis of PTSD, self-estimate scale for evaluation of intensity of simptoms of PTSD, Brief psychiatric ratin scale (BPRS) and medical files. Data were statistically arranged by SAS. Working status is correlated to values on Brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) and self-estimate scale for evaluation of symptoms intensity of PTSD. Work disability was statistically significantly correlated to: earlier appearance of symptoms of PTSD, more frequent reminding of stressor by live memories, and symptoms intensity. The intensity of symptoms was statistically more significantly correlated to work ability than their form, and the number of stressors lived through the war (through more severe illness) had more influence on work ability than characteristics or durability of a stressor.