Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
09:55
Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
The relationship between past traumatic experience and sickness absence.
Takashi Izutsu1, Mihoko Shibuya, Atsuro Tsutsumi
1Department of Forensic Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan. izutsu@gakushikai.jp
The International Journal of Social Psychiatry
|March 4, 2008
Summary
Past traumatic experiences increase employee sickness absence, even years later. This highlights the importance of addressing trauma in occupational health strategies.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Psychotraumatology
- Workplace Mental Health
Background:
- Past traumatic experiences are linked to reduced stress tolerance and increased job strain.
- The connection between past trauma and employee sickness absence remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between past traumatic experiences and sickness absence.
- To examine the influence of time since trauma, job strain, depression, and anxiety on this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 3238 workers assessing traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and job stress.
- Analyzed sickness absence data in relation to traumatic stress levels and time elapsed since trauma.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant association was found between past traumatic experiences and sickness absence.
- The odds ratio for sickness absence was 1.75 (p < 0.05) within 0-1 years post-trauma and 1.46 (p < 0.1) for 19+ years post-trauma, adjusted for covariates.
Conclusions:
- Past traumatic events are significantly associated with increased sickness absence.
- Recognizing and managing sickness absence related to past trauma is crucial for industrial health and employee well-being.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, forced displacement, or severe accidents. It significantly impairs individuals' ability to cope with daily activities and disrupts their emotional and psychological equilibrium.
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
01:20Traumatic Memory
Emotionally traumatic events often lead to memories that are exceptionally vivid and enduring, sometimes persisting with remarkable clarity throughout an individual's life. A classic example of this phenomenon is a person who survives a car accident. Even years later, they may recall every detail of the event with startling accuracy — the screeching of the tires, the jarring impact, and the acrid smell of burning rubber. Such vividness contrasts sharply with how an individual remembers mundane...
01:17Classification of Illness
The meaning of illness is individualized to each person who experiences an alteration in health. In contrast, disease is a medical term indicating a pathological change in the structure and function of the body or mind. It is a condition that has specific symptoms and boundaries.
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...
An illness is a response to a disease in which the person's level of functioning is changed compared with a previous level. The general classification of illness includes acute and chronic.
Acute illness is severe and...
01:30Stress and Mental Health
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...