Occupational post-traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychotraumatology
• Public Health

Background:

• Previous research on occupational post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) predates 2010, leaving knowledge gaps regarding prevalence, risk factors, and impact.
• A significant body of literature on occupational PTSD exists, necessitating a focused review of recent findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize the literature on occupational PTSD published after 2010.
• To clarify the prevalence, risk factors, and health consequences of occupational PTSD in the modern workforce.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar.
• PRISMA guidelines were followed to identify and select relevant studies on occupational PTSD.
• Selected studies were analyzed for prevalence/incidence, risk factors, and health effects.

Main Results:

• Out of 123 initial articles, 31 were selected for review, focusing on occupational traumatic events like disasters, accidents, and workplace bullying.
• Key risk factors for occupational PTSD include working conditions, injury severity, pre-existing mental health issues, and personality traits.
• Workers with PTSD experienced significant declines in physical and psychological health, social functioning, and occupational performance.

Conclusions:

• Workers remain highly susceptible to developing occupational PTSD.
• The consequences of occupational PTSD significantly impair workers' overall well-being and functioning.