Post traumatic stress disorder following facial and dental trauma: preliminary findings from a study conducted in India

• Published in: Oral and maxillofacial surgery 2023-06, Vol.27 (2), p.297-303
• Main Authors: Hu, Weihsin, Mehta, Deval, Garg, Krati, Patel, Shweta, Shukla, Shreedhar, Agrawal, Mohit, Thadani, Sandeep
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anxiety; Facial Injuries - epidemiology; Facial Injuries - etiology; Facial Injuries - psychology; Female; Humans; India - epidemiology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Original Article; Post traumatic stress disorder; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - etiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Tooth Injuries - epidemiology; Tooth Injuries - etiology
• ISSN: 1865-1569; 1865-1550; 1865-1569
• DOI: 10.1007/s10006-022-01068-9

This study was conducted to identify and study the prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients, who had sustained traumatic facial and dental injuries along with other variables that may affect the psychological response. Material and methods 241 patients suffering from traumatic facial and dental injuries presenting to the Ahmadabad Municipal Dental College and Hospital were included in the study. 110 patients (males — 87, females — 23) suffered disfiguring injuries and/or loss of multiple front teeth (DF). 131 patients (males — 102, females — 29) suffered no disfigurement (NDF). Assessment was carried out on day of discharge (D.O.D), 1 month, and 6 months. Impact of Event Scale (I.E.S-R) was used to assess the presence of post traumatic stress disorder in the patients. Results Patients with DF injuries had statistically significant higher mean scores than patients suffering NDF injuries. Female patients had comparatively higher scores at D.O.D, 1 month, and 6 months. Patients treated with maxillomandibular fixation and between ages 18 and 40 years also had significantly higher scores. Conclusion Patients with DF facial injuries including multiple anterior teeth loss had significantly higher mean (I.E.S-R) scores for PTSD in comparison with patients with NDF facial injuries.