Are reports of psychological stress higher in occupational studies? A systematic review across occupational and population based studies.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The general health questionnaire (GHQ) is commonly used to assess symptoms of common mental disorder (CMD). Prevalence estimates for CMD caseness from UK population studies are thought to be in the range of 14-17%, and the UK occupational studies of which we are aware indicate a higher prevalence. This review will synthesise the existing research using the GHQ from both population and occupational studies and will compare the weighted prevalence estimates between them.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the prevalence of CMD, as assessed by the GHQ, in all UK occupational and population studies conducted from 1990 onwards.

Results

The search revealed 65 occupational papers which met the search criteria and 15 relevant pape

SUBMITTER: Goodwin L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3817075 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature