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OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the prevalence of posttraumatic stress among survivors of serious injury-producing car crashes. METHODS: This population-based prospective cohort study, conducted in New Zealand, recruited hospitalized car occupants (passengers and drivers) as well as nonhospitalized drivers after a crash in which at least one occupant was hospitalized. Fifty-nine hospitalized passengers (62%) and 209 drivers (72%) completed five- and 18-month interviews. The Impact of Event Scale assessed symptoms of posttraumatic stress. RESULTS: At five months 28% of hospitalized passengers, 24% of hospitalized drivers, and 24% of nonhospitalized drivers reported symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder. At 18 months, 23% of hospitalized passengers, 11% of hospitalized drivers, and 7% of nonhospitalized drivers reported significant levels of stress. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to prevent disabling sequelae of crashes must address the needs of hospitalized and nonhospitalized survivors.

Original publication

DOI

10.1176/ps.2009.60.3.402

Type

Journal article

Journal

Psychiatr Serv

Publication Date

03/2009

Volume

60

Pages

402 - 404

Keywords

Accidents, Traffic, Adolescent, Adult, Cohort Studies, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, New Zealand, Prevalence, Prospective Studies, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Survivors, Young Adult