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G. Rappolt, L.A. Tiersky, J.E. Ottenweller, B.H. Natelson
Persian Gulf Research Center, DVA Medical Center, East
Orange NJ and
Departments of Neuroscience and PM&R, New Jersey Medical School, Newark
NJ
It has been estimated that between 5,000 and 80,000 veterans
of the Persian Gulf War have become ill with such unexplained symptoms
as fatigue, joint pain, sleep disorders, memory loss, headache and rash.
Further, many psychological disorders have been reported among Persian
Gulf Veterans (PGVs). Both unexplained fatiguing illness and reported
psychological distress are likely to have a negative effect on work quality
and productivity. To determine if work quality and productivity is are
effected by fatiguing illness and/or psychiatric disorder(s), we examined
the quality of work experience in three groups of PGVs: 1) those suffering
from unexplained fatiguing illness (n=26), 2) those suffering from fatiguing
illness and a psychiatric disorder (n=14), and 3) healthy PGVs (n=37).
Importantly, there was no significant difference in employment status
between the healthy and fatiguing illness groups, i.e., about 80% of all
three groups were gainfully employed. Moreover, anxiety, depression and
major psychiatric illness had no effect on the quality of work experience
in PGVs suffering from fatiguing illness. However, the fatiguing illness
group reported a significantly lower quality of work experience (p<.01).
Specifically, the fatiguing illness groups reported doing their job less
carefully and accurately, and doing less work than others in similar jobs
(i.e., working for shorter periods or taking more frequent rests because
of their heath). The sick veterans also feared losing their jobs because
of their heath. These findings are important as they may suggest the need
for employment related rehabilitation efforts in PGV with unexplained
illness. Future research evaluating employment in PGVs should go further
to examine concerns about the quality of work experience rather than occupational
status alone. As these data illustrate, examining only occupational status
may obscure important differences between sick and healthy veterans in
their perceived productivity and efficiency at work.
KEYWORDS: Persian Gulf Illness, Employment, Work Quality
This research was supported by the Department of Veterans
Affairs through the New Jersey Center for Environmental Hazards Research.
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