Probable Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Self-harming Behaviour: Potential Barriers to Employment?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Probable Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Self-harming Behaviour

T2 - Potential Barriers to Employment?

AU - Hansen, J. S.

AU - Simonsen, E.

PY - 2018/8/1

Y1 - 2018/8/1

N2 - The current study screened for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and self-harming behaviours, often related to borderline personality disorder (BPD), among individuals in a job centre considered unemployable primarily for psychological reasons. Participants (N = 112) filled in questionnaires on PTSD symptoms (n = 62) and self-harming behaviours (n = 59) as part of participating in team-meetings providing the individuals with a return-to-work plan. Differences in demographic variables between individuals with and without valid protocols were small to moderate. Of the individuals filling in the PTSD questionnaire 40% fulfilled criteria for probable PTSD and 31% of the individuals filling in the questionnaire on self-harming behaviours reported five or more types of self-harming behaviours. Only a minority of these individuals had PTSD or BPD respectively mentioned in their case records. Further investigation of the prevalence of PTSD and self-harming behaviour among individuals considered unemployable is warranted as well as an enhanced focus in jobcentres and other institutions supporting employability on detection and treatment of PTSD and early signs of BPD.

AB - The current study screened for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and self-harming behaviours, often related to borderline personality disorder (BPD), among individuals in a job centre considered unemployable primarily for psychological reasons. Participants (N = 112) filled in questionnaires on PTSD symptoms (n = 62) and self-harming behaviours (n = 59) as part of participating in team-meetings providing the individuals with a return-to-work plan. Differences in demographic variables between individuals with and without valid protocols were small to moderate. Of the individuals filling in the PTSD questionnaire 40% fulfilled criteria for probable PTSD and 31% of the individuals filling in the questionnaire on self-harming behaviours reported five or more types of self-harming behaviours. Only a minority of these individuals had PTSD or BPD respectively mentioned in their case records. Further investigation of the prevalence of PTSD and self-harming behaviour among individuals considered unemployable is warranted as well as an enhanced focus in jobcentres and other institutions supporting employability on detection and treatment of PTSD and early signs of BPD.

KW - Borderline personality disorder

KW - Job centre

KW - Post traumatic stress disorder

KW - Psychological barriers

KW - Self-harming behaviour

KW - Unemployable

U2 - 10.1007/s10597-017-0180-1

DO - 10.1007/s10597-017-0180-1

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29138960

AN - SCOPUS:85033689587

SN - 0010-3853

VL - 54

SP - 823

EP - 830

JO - Community Mental Health Journal

JF - Community Mental Health Journal

IS - 6

ER -