E A S O M 2015

POSTTRAUMATC STRESS DISORDER AND PREVENTION

• Mirjana Damej, dr. med.

• spec. psihiatrije

THE PRIMARY CARE PTSD SCREEN = PC – PTSD

• A frightening experience in the past month folloved by:

• --nightmares or unwanted thoughts about it• --trying hard not to think about it or avoiding

situations that remind you of it• --being costantly on guard, watchful or easily

startled• --feeling numb or detached from others, daily

activities, your surroundings

• 3 positive answers suggest PTSD

PTSD as a result of series of events

• Complex PTSD

• Prolonged Duress Stress Disorder

• Cumulative stress

• Rolling PTSD

Psychological processes caused by mobbing (= emotional stress)

• Fear, anxiety, worrying• Outrage, anger, helplessness• A need for self-defence and self-justification• Sleeplessnes, restlessnes, fatigue• Impairment of concentration and attention• Increased muscle tension – low back pain, headache• Abuse of PAS• Indirect selfdestructive behaviour• Psychosomatic disorders• Psychiatric conditions –PTSD, anxiety states,

depression, aggressivity, suicide…

Can workplace mobbing cause illness?

• Experiencing mobbing – emotional response• The brain cortex …hypotalamus…autonomous

nervous system… hormonal changes• Changes in heart function and blood circulation

– hypertension, brain or heart stroke, infarction• Metabolic disorders – diabetes, thyroid,

dyslipidemia• Immune system disorders – infections,

autoimmune pathology, malignant growth…

Individual psychosocial consequences

• Work incapability, disability

• Lower socioeconomic status

• Social connections, even familial, may fall apart (divorce)

• Drifting toward social margin

• Different forms of social pathology

• Suicide

MOBBING-FREE WORKPLACE CULTURE

• A difficult interpersonal situation versus a mobbing situation

• Workplace mobbing policies – a must

• Understanding and help from managing structures is crucial

• Training managers on how to understand and support targets (victims?)

PREVENTION OF PDSD- PERSONAL LEVEL

• EMPLOYERS:• -respectful work environment as rated by

employees• -appreciation as motivator• -treating employees as insiders • -empathy for problems • -discipline + relationship• GREAT PEOPLE DO NOT TREAT OTHERS

DISRESPECTFULLY

• EMPLOYEES:• -recognizing mobbing as such • -carefully building and maintaining a supportive

social grid• -learning any kind of relaxation techniques and

practising it regularly• -keeping fit• -appropriate nonverbal communication (eyes,

posture, hands, standing position, going away)• -appropriate verbal communication (mirroring,

meaningless comments, humor, irony)

WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE

• Loss of energy and motivation• Chest pain • Weakness, loss of consciousness, dizziness• Concentration and watchfulness problems,

errors at work, driving problems• Eating and/or digestive disorders• Using alcohol, OTC drugs, illegal drugs• Unintentional self-injuries