Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders as a Consequence of Severe Road Traffic Accidents

Il Disturbo Post-Traumatico da Stress Come Conseguenza di Gravi Incidenti Stradali

Psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and adjustment disorders, are becoming more frequently recognized as a potential result after a severe road traffic accident. This article reports on a study undertaken to evaluate the incidence, clinical, and cognitive peculiarities of PTSD following road traffic accidents. The study included a group of subjects diagnosed with PTSD in a sample of 120 subjects who experienced a severe road traffic accident (defined as one including threat to life or to health) with consequent head injuries. Subjects with PTSD were evaluated with diagnostic instruments including the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, and a Disability Scale. The participants were divided into two groups: those with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and those without them. The diagnosis of PTSD was found in 39 of 120 subjects (32.5%); only 14 of these (35.9%) had suffered a TBI. However, the group without TBI experienced fewer psychopathological symptoms and a better cognitive and global functioning pattern compared to those who had TBI. The authors conclude by discussing their findings in light of earlier hypotheses that people who had TBI would not also experience PTSD.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03479320
• Authors:
  • Bellomo, A
  • De Giorgi, A
  • Petito, A
  • Cammeo, C
  • Lepore, A
  • Borrelli, A
  • Nardini, M
• Publication Date: 2006-6

Language

• English
• Italian

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 155-163
• Serial:
  • Minerva Psichiatrica
  • Volume: 47
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Edizioni Minerva Medica
  • ISSN: 0347-9320

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brain; Cognition; Cognitive impairment; Crash injuries; Crashes; Diagnosis; Psychological aspects; Psychological tests; Stress (Psychology)
• Identifier Terms: Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; Disability Scale; Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
• Uncontrolled Terms: Symptoms
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I84: Personal Injuries;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01079778
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 22 2007 2:56PM