SynthesisBMJ open2021
What work-related exposures are associated with post-traumatic stress disorder? A systematic review with meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.
- Risk factors for adverse health in military and law enforcement personnel; an umbrella review.BMC public health · 2024Pooled it
- Post-traumatic stress disorder: pathogenesis, epidemiological characteristics, animal models, and potential therapeutic strategies.Military Medical Research · 2026Review
- Post-traumatic stress disorder: outline and updated insights focusing on occupational factors.Journal of occupational medicine and toxicology (London, England) · 2026Review
- Oxytocin attenuates fear learning via enhancing somatostatin interneuron-mediated local GABAergic inhibition in the prelimbic cortex.Science advances · 2026Article
- Burnout, PTSD, and Medical Error: The Medico-Legal Implications of the Mental Health Crisis Among Frontline Healthcare Professionals During COVID-19.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Review
- Altered cortical myelination based on gray-to-white matter signal intensity contrast in shift workers.Brain structure & function · 2025Article
- Beneath the Surface: Mental Health in Commercial Fisheries.Journal of agromedicine · 2025Article
- The OCCHLTH Mnemonic-Construction and Content of a Tool for Increasing Awareness of Occupational Illness and Injury.Journal of occupational and environmental medicine · 2024Review
- Working Conditions and Mental Health in a Brazilian University.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Blunted diurnal interleukin-6 rhythm is associated with amygdala emotional hyporeactivity and depression: a modulating role of gene-stressor interactions.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Article
- A phenomenological exploration of work-related post-traumatic growth among high-functioning adults maltreated as children.Frontiers in psychology · 2022Article
- Team Coping: Cross-Level Influence of Team Member Coping Activities on Individual Burnout.Frontiers in psychology · 2021Article
- Building psychological resilience in Armed Forces worldwide.Medical journal, Armed Forces IndiaReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesAlthough there is evidence that work-related exposures cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there are few quantitative studies assessing the degree to which these factors contribute to PTSD. This systematic review with meta-analysis identified work-related exposures associated with PTSD, and quantified their contribution to this disorder.
methodsWe searched Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, PILOTS and Web of Science (2005-10 September 2019) for longitudinal studies on work-related exposures and PTSD. We described included articles, and conducted meta-analyses for exposures with sufficient homogeneous information. We performed subgroup analyses for risk of bias, study design and PTSD ascertainment. We assessed evidence quality using Grades of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation, and estimated population attributable fractions.
resultsAfter screening 8590 records, we selected 33 studies (n=5 719 236). From what was moderate quality evidence at best, we identified various work-related exposures that were associated with PTSD, mainly involving individuals in the military and first responder (eg, police or fire brigade) occupations. These exposures included the number of army deployments (OR: 1.15 (95% CI 1.14 to 1.16)), combat exposure (OR 1.89 (95% CI 1.46 to 2.45)), army deployment (OR 1.79 (95% CI 1.45 to 2.21)) and confrontation with death (OR 1.63 (95% CI 1.41 to 1.90)). Effects were robust across subgroups and exposures attributed modestly (7%-34%) to PTSD. We identified additional exposures in other occupations, including life threats, being present during an attack, and hearing about a colleague's trauma.
conclusionsWe identified various work-related exposures associated with PTSD and quantified their contribution. While exposure assessment, PTSD ascertainment and inconsistency may have biased our findings, our data are of importance for development of preventive interventions and occupational health guidelines.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.