Psychological Outcome of Injured Workers at 3 Months after Occupational Injury Requiring Hospitalization in Taiwan

• Published in: Journal of Occupational Health 2012-07, Vol.54 (4), p.289-298
• Main Authors: Lin, Kuan‐Han, Guo, Nai‐Wen, Liao, Shih‐Cheng, Kuo, Chun‐Ya, Hu, Pei‐Yi, Hsu, Jin‐Huei, Hwang, Yaw‐Huei, Guo, Yue Leon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accidents, Occupational; Adult; Comorbidity; Depressive Disorder, Major - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder, Major - psychology; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Injuries; Length of Stay; Major depression; Male; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Middle Aged; Occupational accidents; Occupational health; Occupational Injuries - psychology; Occupational injury; Partial post‐traumatic stress disorder (PPTSD); Post traumatic stress disorder; Post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Prevalence; Questionnaires; Socioeconomic Factors; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Taiwan - epidemiology; Time Factors; Trauma Severity Indices
• ISSN: 1341-9145; 1348-9585; 1348-9585
• DOI: 10.1539/joh.11-0211-oa

[Abstract]: [Introduction]: After a traumatic event, a significant proportion of victims develop psychiatric disorders. Trauma has been an important ailment among workers. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric disorders at three months after occupational injuries. [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 (BSRS-50) and Post-traumatic Symptom Checklist (PTSC) was sent to workers at 3 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 2001 workers completed the questionnaire (response rate 45.5%). Among them, 357 (17.8%) fulfilled the criteria for the MINI interview and were invited. A total of 148 (41.5%) completed the phone interview. The estimated rates of PTSD, partial PTSD (PPTSD), major depression, comorbid PTSD/PPTSD and major depression, and either PTSD/PPTSD or major depression were 2.7, 4.1, 3.0, 2.3, and 7.5%, respectively. The estimated rates of either PTSD/PPTSD or major depression among workers who suffered from intracranial injury, fracture, burn, crushing injury, and open wound of upper limbs were 10.4, 6.9, 5.9, 5.8 and 0%, respectively. [Conclusions]: At three months after occupational injuries, a significant proportion of workers suffered from psychiatric disorders. The rates of psychiatric disorders occurring after intracranial injuries were significantly higher than those occurring after non-intracranial injuries.