Psychoreactive disorders after motor vehicle accidents. Is it possible to predict the development of psychoreactive disorders after motor vehicle accidents?

• Published in: Der Unfallchirurg 2005-12, Vol.108 (12), p.1065-1071
• Main Authors: Meyer, C, Dittrich, U, Küster, S, Markgraf, E, Hofmann, G O, Strauss, B
• Format: Article
• Language: ger
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic - psychology; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Linear Models; Male; Middle Aged; Pain - etiology; Pain - psychology; Risk Factors; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - etiology; Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute - etiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Wounds and Injuries - psychology
• ISSN: 0177-5537
• DOI: 10.1007/s00113-005-0994-0

The aim of this study was to assess common risk factors for the early development of psychoreactive disorders during traumatological treatment and to estimate their predictive potential. The sample consisted of 126 consecutive patients with accidental injuries recruited in an emergency room of the university hospital. We assessed this population 1 week (T1) and-on average-8 months following the accident (T2). At T1 34.5% of all patients indicated moderate and 26.4% strong symptoms of an acute stress disorder; 26.7% of all patients assessed at T2 suffered from severe post-traumatic symptoms. Linear regression analysis, using morbidity status at T2 as the dependent variable, allowed the explanation of 46.2% of the variance. The degree of early acute stress symptoms, injury, and pain intensity contributed significantly to the predictive model. We conclude that a substantial proportion of severely injured accident victims that will develop PTSD can be screened to some degree by the assessment of early stress disorder, the degree of their injury, and pain intensity, enabling secondary prevention of trauma-dependent symptomatology.