The impact of post-traumatic stress on the mental state of university hospital physicians – a cross sectional study
Abstract Background Hospital physicians have an increased risk for post-traumatic stress caused by work-related trauma. This study examines the frequency of reported traumatic events (TE), post-traumatic stress (PTS) and its possible consequences for the mental state and work ability of physicians a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-03719-3 |
| _version_ | 1798023902934335488 |
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| author | Christian Bock Tanja Zimmermann Kai G. Kahl |
| author_facet | Christian Bock Tanja Zimmermann Kai G. Kahl |
| author_sort | Christian Bock |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Hospital physicians have an increased risk for post-traumatic stress caused by work-related trauma. This study examines the frequency of reported traumatic events (TE), post-traumatic stress (PTS) and its possible consequences for the mental state and work ability of physicians at a university hospital. Methods As part of the mandatory psychological risk assessment, n = 145 physicians (n = 56 female; 38.6%) were examined at a university hospital in Germany in a cross sectional study. TE, PTS and symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed using the self-report questionnaires “Freiburger Screening Fragebogen to identify patients at risk for the development of a post-traumatic stress disorder in the group of severely injured patients” (PTBS-13), the “Patient Health Questionnaire” (PHQ-2) and the “Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale” (GAD-2). Work ability was assessed using a modified version of the questionnaire for workplace analysis (KFZA). The response rate was 52%. Results Traumatic events were experienced by n = 125 physicians (86.2%) throughout their whole career. Of these, 19 physicians (15.2%) reported PTS. PTS is reported by 12 of 56 female physicians (63.2%), compared to 7 of 89 reports of PTS by male physicians (36.8%). Physicians with PTS symptoms had higher depression scores (p = 0.007) compared to physicians without TE or with TE, but without PTS. Physicians with PTS reported significantly reduced work ability caused by constantly interrupted work (p = 0.03). Female gender was the greatest risk factor for the development of PTS. (p = 0.001). Conclusions Physicians – especially females – with PTS may have an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms. Therefore, interventions aimed at reducing trauma-related stress symptoms may be helpful in improving mental health of hospital physicians. Further studies with more physicians from different hospitals are necessary to support the results. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T17:53:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-133f75be736a4ba6afe0ac347986f30a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T17:53:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-133f75be736a4ba6afe0ac347986f30a2022-12-22T04:10:57ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2022-02-012211910.1186/s12888-022-03719-3The impact of post-traumatic stress on the mental state of university hospital physicians – a cross sectional studyChristian Bock0Tanja Zimmermann1Kai G. Kahl2Department of Occupational Safety, Hannover Medical SchoolDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical SchoolDepartment of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical SchoolAbstract Background Hospital physicians have an increased risk for post-traumatic stress caused by work-related trauma. This study examines the frequency of reported traumatic events (TE), post-traumatic stress (PTS) and its possible consequences for the mental state and work ability of physicians at a university hospital. Methods As part of the mandatory psychological risk assessment, n = 145 physicians (n = 56 female; 38.6%) were examined at a university hospital in Germany in a cross sectional study. TE, PTS and symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed using the self-report questionnaires “Freiburger Screening Fragebogen to identify patients at risk for the development of a post-traumatic stress disorder in the group of severely injured patients” (PTBS-13), the “Patient Health Questionnaire” (PHQ-2) and the “Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale” (GAD-2). Work ability was assessed using a modified version of the questionnaire for workplace analysis (KFZA). The response rate was 52%. Results Traumatic events were experienced by n = 125 physicians (86.2%) throughout their whole career. Of these, 19 physicians (15.2%) reported PTS. PTS is reported by 12 of 56 female physicians (63.2%), compared to 7 of 89 reports of PTS by male physicians (36.8%). Physicians with PTS symptoms had higher depression scores (p = 0.007) compared to physicians without TE or with TE, but without PTS. Physicians with PTS reported significantly reduced work ability caused by constantly interrupted work (p = 0.03). Female gender was the greatest risk factor for the development of PTS. (p = 0.001). Conclusions Physicians – especially females – with PTS may have an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms. Therefore, interventions aimed at reducing trauma-related stress symptoms may be helpful in improving mental health of hospital physicians. Further studies with more physicians from different hospitals are necessary to support the results.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-03719-3Post-traumatic stress1Physicians2Risk assessment3Depression4Anxiety5ptsd6 |
| spellingShingle | Christian Bock Tanja Zimmermann Kai G. Kahl The impact of post-traumatic stress on the mental state of university hospital physicians – a cross sectional study BMC Psychiatry Post-traumatic stress1 Physicians2 Risk assessment3 Depression4 Anxiety5 ptsd6 |
| title | The impact of post-traumatic stress on the mental state of university hospital physicians – a cross sectional study |
| title_full | The impact of post-traumatic stress on the mental state of university hospital physicians – a cross sectional study |
| title_fullStr | The impact of post-traumatic stress on the mental state of university hospital physicians – a cross sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of post-traumatic stress on the mental state of university hospital physicians – a cross sectional study |
| title_short | The impact of post-traumatic stress on the mental state of university hospital physicians – a cross sectional study |
| title_sort | impact of post traumatic stress on the mental state of university hospital physicians a cross sectional study |
| topic | Post-traumatic stress1 Physicians2 Risk assessment3 Depression4 Anxiety5 ptsd6 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-03719-3 |
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