Open AccessI feel frozen: Client perceptions of how posttraumatic stress disorder impacts employment.
Author(s) -
Weili Lu,
Francine Bates,
William R. Waynor,
Carolyn Bazan,
Carol E. Gao,
Philip T. Yanos
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
psychiatric rehabilitation journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.767
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1559-3126
pISSN - 1095-158X
DOI - 10.1037/prj0000477
Subject(s) - psycinfo , feeling , posttraumatic stress , psychology , affect (linguistics) , clinical psychology , perception , psychiatry , medline , social psychology , communication , neuroscience , political science , law
Objective: There is evidence that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a hidden barrier to employment among individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI) among whom PTSD is highly prevalent. This study aimed to explore how PTSD interferes with achieving employment outcomes among persons with SMI. Methods: Participants included 119 individuals with SMI and co-occurring PTSD receiving Supported Employment services. Responses to the question, "In what ways are PTSD symptoms interfering with your work during the past month?" were analyzed. Results: Six themes emerged: (a) I don't like being around people, (b) I feel frozen and unable to get started, (c) troubling negative affect, (d) mind is scattered and all over the place, (e) feeling fatigued all the time, and (f) flashbacks and triggers can happen whenever. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Findings provide insight into how PTSD symptoms impact work outcomes and suggest that there is a need for Supported Employment providers to screen clients for trauma exposure to identify those in need of additional support in order to improve work outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).