Issue:
Data from several other studies showed that between a quarter and a third of workers exposed to traumatic events develop symptoms of PTSD and that 34% of individuals who experienced work-related physical injuries went on to report symptoms of PTSD
Research also shows that PTSD is associated with absenteeism, unemployment, and work disability.
This study would conduct a network meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials (RCT) to evaluate therapies for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to determine which therapies show evidence of promoting functional recovery and return to work (RTW) as well as the relative effectiveness of these treatments.
Objectives:
The proposed study would undertake the following activities:
• Evaluate all treatments for PTSD and the relative effectiveness of treatments;
• Evaluate the quality of evidence in a thorough and consistent manner using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system;
• Prioritize functional recovery with a focus on RTW;
• Synthesize evidence from all published RCT on PTSD treatments and reported functional recovery;
• Guide evidence-based management of patients with PTSD with the assistance of knowledge users who would participate in the study under the knowledge transfer and exchange (KTE) plan for the study;
• Identify new areas of inquiry for research and practice; and
• Develop new educational tools for patients and clinicians.
Anticipated Results:
The study will result in a review of all available literature on PTSD treatment, identify the effectiveness of treatment modalities and outcomes and focus on functional recovery and RTW. The results will guide evidence-based management of patients, identify new areas of inquiry for research and practice and develop new educational tools fro patients a clinicians. The results could also have broad application to all employment sectors and would build up the scientific knowledge base.
Investigators:
Jason W. Busse, Yasir Rehman, Gordon Guyatt, Randi McCabe, Margaret McKinnon, McMaster University; Ruth Lanius, Western University of Canada; J. Don Richardson, St. Josephs’s Healthcare, London, Ontario; Bert Cornelius, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
