Cognition and mental wellbeing after electrical accidents: a survey and a clinical study among Swedish male electricians

Abstract

Purpose The purpose was to examine long-term consequences of exposure to electrical current passing through the body. We investigated (1) whether electricians after having experienced an electrical accident report more cognitive problems and lower mental wellbeing and (2) have objectively verifiable reduced cognitive function; and (3) which circumstances at the time of the accident affect long-term subjective cognitive function and mental wellbeing? Methods A survey of male electricians who had experienced electrical accidents (n = 510) and a clinical study in a subsample (n = 23) who reported residual health problems was carried out. Both groups were examined regarding subjective cognitive function (Euroquest-9) and mental wellbeing (Symptom Checklist-90 subscales). The clinical study included neuropsychological tests of memory, attention, spatial function, and premorbid intellectual capacity. A matched control group was retrieved from reference data. Results The survey participants reported more cognitive problems and lower mental wellbeing than referents. Of the examined circumstances, having experienced mortal fear at the time of the accident and health complaints, especially mental symptoms, for > 1 week after the accident were the most significant risk factors for later subjective cognitive problems and lower mental wellbeing. The only statistically significant difference in neuropsychological tests was better performance in part of the memory tests by the clinical study group compared to the control group. Conclusions The participants reported more cognitive problems and lower mental wellbeing than referents, but no long-term objective cognitive dysfunction was detected. Emotional response at the time of the accident and health complaints in the aftermath of the accident may constitute important indications for medical and psychological follow-ups.

Strømgjennomgang fra lavspenning – forslag til nye anbefalinger

“…En kartlegging vi har gjennomført ved St. Olavs hospital, peker i retning av at en stor andel av pasienter med strømgjennomgang fra lavspenning kan utredes og behandles poliklinisk, uten at pasientsikkerheten reduseres (10). På bakgrunn av tidligere anbefalinger, våre kliniske erfaringer samt nyere li eratur om risiko for sekvele e er lavspenningsulykker (11) presenterer vi et forslag til algoritme for aku håndtering av pasienter e er strømgjennomgang fra lavspenning (figur 1).…”

“…Håndterte pasienter må få informasjon ved hjemreise om å ta kontakt med legevakt eller fastlege hvis de opplever hjertebank, brystsmerter, synkope, økende muskelsmerter, parestesier eller temperaturstigning (12). Siden seneffekter forekommer (1,11,20), bør pasientene oppfordres til å kontakte fastlege dersom de opplever vedvarende symptomer. De bør informeres om mulig utvikling av kroniske smerter, nummenhet og mental påvirkning, som bør følges opp av fastlege.…”

“…De bør informeres om mulig utvikling av kroniske smerter, nummenhet og mental påvirkning, som bør følges opp av fastlege. Sekveler kan også oppstå i e erkant av eksponeringen (11,18).…”

Mental disorders following electrical injuries—A register-based, matched cohort study

“…Besides the physiological damages, electrical injuries have been reported to cause psychological problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) [ 4 – 7 ], depression [ 5 – 9 ], anxiety [ 6 – 8 , 10 , 11 ], sleep disorders [ 5 – 7 , 10 , 11 ], cognitive problems [ 6 , 8 , 11 , 12 ] and sexual dysfunction [ 9 , 11 ]. An American retrospective study evaluated psychiatric examinations of 73 referred electrical injured patients and found that having experienced “no-let-go” or having lost or impaired consciousness was associated with psychiatric diagnosis [ 13 ].…”

“…A larger multicenter study from Canada with 114 patients, who were interviewed shortly after the injury and again one year later, found that several neuropsychological complaints were persistent over time or even increased [ 17 ]. However, a recent Swedish study found no long-term cognitive dysfunctions [ 12 ].…”