Assessment of cognitive functions in individuals with post-traumatic symptoms after work-related accidents

Psychological Distress and Post-Traumatic Symptoms Following Occupational Accidents

“…Evanoff and colleagues [8] reported that 30% of victims of work-related accidents complained of less ability to concentrate after the accident. Similarly, Buodo and colleagues [36] found in injured workers more difficulties in attention and concentration, compared to controls. It is likely that impairment in concentration may contribute to poor job functioning and could possibly increase the risk for re-injury.…”

“…Injury following occupational accidents may negatively impact motivation to work, job satisfaction, and the cognitive abilities necessary to return to work [35]. In a recent study [36] it has been shown that injured workers, compared to controls, displayed impaired attention and concentration, memory, and executive functions. These cognitive deficits may account for the high rates of re-injury (30% over six months and 16% over one year) detected among victims of a work-related accident [8,37].…”

Posttraumatic and Depressive Symptoms in Victims of Occupational Accidents

“…However, the relevant literature indicates that both victims of accidents in high-risk occupations and workers injured in industrial accidents show increased levels of emotional distress, anxiety and depression, subjective personal vulnerability, anger, irritability, somatic focus, preoccupations about the future, inactivity, and dependence [24–27]. Indeed, workplace accidents are increasingly reported as potentially traumatic events that may result in the development of acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder, or eventually PTSD [24, 25, 28–31]. A percentage of injured workers as high as 30–40% has been reported to show symptoms consistent with full or partial PTSD after the accident (see [29, 31]).…”

“…Indeed, workplace accidents are increasingly reported as potentially traumatic events that may result in the development of acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder, or eventually PTSD [24, 25, 28–31]. A percentage of injured workers as high as 30–40% has been reported to show symptoms consistent with full or partial PTSD after the accident (see [29, 31]).…”

Transtorno de estresse pós-traumático decorrente de acidente de trabalho: implicações psicológicas, socioeconômicas e jurídicas

“…Entre as possíveis consequências dos acidentes de trabalho, ressalta-se que, embora os prejuízos físicos sejam mais facilmente percebidos, sintomas e transtornos psiquiátricos têm sido cada vez mais observados (Ministério da Saúde do Brasil, 2001). Nesse contexto, o Transtorno de Estresse Pós-Traumático (TEPT) vem sendo apontado como uma das psicopatologias que podem ser desencadeadas após a vivência de um acidente no contexto do trabalho, causando prejuízos e impactos na qualidade de vida dos trabalhadores (Bucasio et al, 2005;Buodo et al, 2011;McFarlane & Bryant, 2007;Novara et al, 2009;World Health Organization, 1998). Embora haja categorias profissionais mais suscetíveis a desenvolver o TEPT, como bancários, policiais, enfermeiros, bombeiros, entre outros, o transtorno não se restringe a esses profissionais, podendo acometer qualquer trabalhador, tendo em vista que a ocorrência de situações traumáticas não é um fato incomum no ambiente organizacional (MacDonald, Colotla, Flamer, & Karlinsky, 2003;McFarlane & Bryant, 2007).…”