Applicazione di un protocollo multidisciplinare per la patologia da mobbing

This study proposes a method for assessing mobbing in the clinical setting. We present 187 outpatients (79 males, 108 females; mean age: 41 years) who asked medical assistance, during the last five years, for psychopathological problems by them ascribed to mobbing in the working environment. Fortyeight subjects were employed in public institutions, 139 in private companies. All patients underwent occupational health visit, psychological counselling (including personality tests administration), and psychiatric evaluation. A clinical picture probably due to mobbing was diagnosed in 31 workers (17% of the cases): 2 cases of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), 27 of Adjustment Disorder (AD), and 2 of anxiety disorder. Four cases of AD were work-related but not due to mobbing. In 7 patients the correlation with the working activity was possible but difficult to demonstrate, due to concomitant (non-occupational) stressing situations. A pre-existing psychiatric disorder was identified in 74 subjects (40%). Altered interpersonal relationships with the colleagues were present in 62 cases (33%). Nine patients did not complete the diagnostic protocol. In conclusion, a pure mobbing syndrome was diagnosed in a lower proportion than that reported by other investigators. This difference probably depends on patients preselection criteria. The described interdisciplinary approach appears useful for the diagnostic assessment of suspect mobbing cases, that in turn is crucial for prognosis and treatment, as well as in relation to medico-legal issues and work-related compensation claims.