Title: Jason is a 48 year old married man on sick leave from his job as a foreman in a food processing factory, a position he has held for some five years following a redundancy from a previous employer
Author: Owner
Last saved by: Peter
Company: Hewlett-Packard

Jason is a 48 year old married man on sick leave from his job as a foreman in a food processing factory, a position he has held for some five years following a redundancy from a previous employer. Nearly 2 ½ years ago, Jason was in charge of a production line and witnessed one of his employees, a young man of 18 years of age, fall into a piece of machinery resulting in horrible injuries. Jason accompanied the injured man to hospital, but was prevented from entering the treatment room, where his employee later died. Immediately after the incident, Jason took the train home and missed his station stop. He reports spending a number of hours wandering the street in the dark, feeling confused and disorientated, eventually being picked up by the police and taken home. He was allowed a temporary leave from his work for two weeks and now has little recall of the period immediately following the accident. 
Jason returned to his work two weeks later, fearing reprisals from his employer, if he remained off work any longer. He has been telling himself to "pull yourself together", neither understanding why he was feeling so miserable, and believing that there was no justifiable reason for taking more time off work. He regards failure to go to work or to cope as a sign of weakness which would not be looked well upon by his co-workers or subordinates. The accidental death that occurred at work has not been discussed by the employer or amongst the employees.  Jason now perceives that he is being ostracized and avoided by his superiors and subordinates. He believes that they blame him for the employee’s death, and he fears that the parents of the young man, who lived in the same community, might exact revenge. Jason complains of having no energy and of increased irritability with his wife and children. His manner was withdrawn, and Jason appeared to be consumed with doubt and self-directed anger. 
Over the past two years there has been a period of increasing time off work, poor attendance and at least two incidents of being under the influence of alcohol while on the job. As a result Jason was sent home as unfit for duty two months ago. His primary care physician provided him with a medical release from work due to his suffering from exhaustion and depression, and has prescribed the antidepressant, Zoloft. He has not since returned to work. 
Jason was asked to see an employer appointed psychiatrist and during his visit told the doctor that he was suffering from unbearable and constant memories of the workplace accident. He reports he is now unable to sleep (unless intoxicated) due to the fear of the frequent nightmares which torment him.  He has taken the antidepressants daily but received little relief. He also reported that he is being targeted and blamed for the accident by fellow employees, has avoided going near his place of work, ignores the phone and any mail which is related to work.