Affiliations: Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic
Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands | Center for Psychological Trauma, Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Marie-Christine J. Plat, Coronel
Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center, P.O. Box 22700, 1100
DE, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Tel.: +31 20 5665341; Fax: +31 20 6977161;
E-mail: m.j.plat@amc.nl
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study i) describes the number of police personnel
with PTSD who are working and those who are on sick leave before and after an
out-patient-clinic treatment program and ii) examines which factors are related
to return to work. PARTICIPANTS: Police personnel treated for PTSD (n=121). METHODS: In this retrospective study all police officers had an
intake interview before and an outtake interview following a 16-week treatment
for PTSD. Information about several personal characteristics, PTSD complaints,
and work related factors were gathered. A t-test and chi-square test were used
to evaluate differences between working police personnel and police personnel
on sick leave at intake and outtake. Binary logistic regression was used to
test whether the intake data were related to returning to work at outtake. RESULTS: At the start of the treatment half of the police personnel
were on sick leave (n=59) and at outtake 48 participants who were not working
at intake had returned to work. None of the variables at intake contributed
significantly to return to work at outtake. CONCLUSION: The majority of police officers returned to work after
the treatment program. We recommend that attention be paid to successful return
to work as part of the treatment program, therefore the occupational health
professional and employer should be involved.
