Work-related stress and bullying: gender differences and forensic medicine issues in the diagnostic procedure

Abstract

BackgroundThe attention of international agencies and scientific community on bullying and work-related stress is increasing. This study describes the gender differences found in victims of bullying and work-related stress in an Italian case series and analyzes the critical issues in the diagnostic workup.MethodsBetween 2001 and 2009 we examined 345 outpatients (148 males, 197 females; mean age: 41 ± 10.49) for suspected psychopathological work-related problems. Diagnosis of bullying was established using international criteria (ICD-10 and DSM-IV).ResultsAfter interdisciplinary diagnostic evaluation (Occupational Medicine Unit, Psychology and Psychiatry Service), the diagnosis of bullying was formulated in 35 subjects, 12 males and 23 females (2 cases of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and 33 of Adjustment Disorder). Fifty-four (20 males, 34 females) suffered from work-related anxiety, while work-unrelated Adjustment Disorder and other psychiatric disorders were diagnosed in 7 and 112 subjects, respectively. Women between 34 and 45 years showed a high prevalence (65%) of "mobbing syndrome" or other work-related stress disorders.ConclusionsAt work, women are more subject to harassment (for personal aspects related to emotional and relational factors) than men. The knowledge of the phenomenon is an essential requisite to contrast bullying; prevention can be carried out only through effective information and training of workers and employers, who have the legal obligation to preserve the integrity of the mental and physical status of their employees during work.

Overview of the psychiatric reflections of mobbing: two case reports

“…"Mobbing syndrome" has not yet been described clearly and precisely (11). In ICD-10 and DSM-IV, two conditions which are not particularly associated with work but related to stress are pointed out: the first one is post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the other one is adjustment disorder.…”

“…A study conducted in Spain reported stress signs such as headaches, anhedonia, and fatigue among victims (9). Several other studies showed that mobbing causes PTSD (11,15). Mobbing is one of the major causes of suicide (16).…”

“…Mobbing victims commonly have physical and psychiatric problems such as PTSD, adjustment disorder, depression, lower self-esteem, guilty feelings, sleep problems, anxiety problems, gastrointestinal problems, and skeletal system problems (11,19). These conditions lead to significant impairments in functioning and interpersonal relations.…”

The intensity of the expression of mobbing in employees’ relations at lithuanian organizations

“…In the world the researches on mobbing have been performed for a long time and the circle of researchers is large enough ([22], [23], [26], [43], [42], [4], [1], [12], [7], [28], [35], [36], [10], [11], [2], [3], [5], [8], [9], [13], [15], [16], [27], [32], [34], [37], [19], etc. ).…”

What kind of diagnosis in a case of mobbing: post-traumatic stress disorder or adjustment disorder?

“…In a study conducted in Australia, 50% of the nurses had been exposed to bullying behaviours once or more in the previous year 3. Nowadays, international literature gives accounts of many clinical studies about the ‘mobbing syndrome’, but, despite its economic loss and social importance,4 it does not have a clear nosological definition. Lacking specific diagnostic criteria, the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) indicate just two conditions connected to stress that are not necessarily work related: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and adjustment disorder (AD).…”