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Post-traumatic stress symptoms in an Italian cohort of subjects complaining occupational stress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 July 2020

Rodolfo Buselli ,
Claudia Carmassi Open the ORCID record for Claudia Carmassi [Opens in a new window] ,
Martina Corsi Open the ORCID record for Martina Corsi [Opens in a new window] ,
Sigrid Baldanzi ,
Gianmarco Battistini ,
Martina Chiumiento ,
Gabriele Massimetti ,
Liliana Dell’Osso  and
Alfonso Cristaudo
Rodolfo Buselli
Affiliation:
Occupational Health Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Cisanello (Pisa), Italy
Claudia Carmassi
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Martina Corsi*
Affiliation:
Occupational Health Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Cisanello (Pisa), Italy
Sigrid Baldanzi
Affiliation:
Occupational Health Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Cisanello (Pisa), Italy
Gianmarco Battistini
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Martina Chiumiento
Affiliation:
Occupational Health Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Cisanello (Pisa), Italy
Gabriele Massimetti
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Liliana Dell’Osso
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Alfonso Cristaudo
Affiliation:
Occupational Health Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Cisanello (Pisa), Italy
*
Author for correspondence: Martina Corsi Email: dott.martinacorsi@gmail.com.
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Abstract

Objective

Work-related stress presents a significant impact on work performance and physical health. It has been associated with the onset of a multitude of symptoms. The main aim of this investigation is to better understand the impact of post-traumatic stress symptomatology, using a specific self-assessment questionnaire, in subjects experiencing occupational stress with the rationale to address the variegated symptoms expressed by this particular population in a post-traumatic dimensional perspective.

Methods

Authors collected socio-demographic, occupational, and clinical data. They utilized Trauma and Loss Spectrum Self Report (TALS-SR), a questionnaire investigating post-traumatic stress symptoms. The population size was 345 subjects who presented at the Occupational Health Department of a university hospital over a 3 years period (2016–2018).

Results

Data analysis revealed 33.9% of subjects who met post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) criteria. Gender distribution of this set was (36.4% female, 31% male). A family history or personal history of mental disorders were related to higher scores in almost all TALS-SR domains and were related, respectively, to higher scores of criterion B “intrusion symptoms” (P = .014), criterion D “negative alterations in cognitions and mood” (P = .023), and criterion E “arousal” (P = .033) of PTSD. Differences in TALS-SR scores also emerged based on age and gender.

Conclusions

PTSD symptoms manifest at a significant level in those who experience work-related stress. Personal background of individuals, both in terms of family and personal history for mental disorders, seems to increase their vulnerability to develop post-traumatic stress symptoms. This study suggests the importance of evaluating occupational stress from a post-traumatic stress perspective also at an early stage.

Keywords

Occupational stresswork-related stresspsychosocial risksworkplace harassmentPTSDTALS-SR
Type
Original Research
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 26 , Issue 5 , October 2021 , pp. 513 - 520
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Rodolfo Buselli, Claudia Carmassi, Liliana Dell’Osso, and Alfonso Cristaudo contributed equally to this work.

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