Post-traumatic stress disorder cases reported by UK occupational physicians 1996–2024

Background

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from trauma encountered in the workplace, may present to occupational physicians. We report on a prospective national voluntary surveillance system of incident cases by occupational physicians.

Aims

To analyse data from the UK Occupational Physicians Reporting Activity (OPRA), collected over a 28-year period.

Methods

We analysed OPRA data for cases of PTSD. Content analysis identified various types of psychiatric trauma across occupations.

Results

There were 397 reports of PTSD as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) from 1996 to 2024. PTSD accounted for 2% of all OPRA reported conditions and 3% of all OPRA mental health cases. The mean age of reported PTSD cases was 40.9 years; 68% (n = 271) were male, in comparison to 42% of all mental health cases being male. The mean duration of PTSD symptoms before assessment was 30.6 months (SE = 3.1). PTSD was most frequently reported in police (20%), military personnel (11%), general nurses (7%), social workers (5%) and train driver/rail (5%). Content analysis revealed that the main traumas were physical assault (22%), military trauma (17%), physical incidents such as electrocution or explosion (10%), and non-violent interpersonal conflict (10%). PTSD was often comorbid with depression and anxiety.

Conclusions

Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs in an array of specific exposures and jobs. It is reported more often in males than females. The most frequent professions were military, police and healthcare. Detecting PTSD through work is important. Occupational physicians should ensure people with PTSD have access to mental health professionals, evidence-based psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy.