Prediction of remission of acute posttraumatic stress disorder in motor vehicle accident victims.
One hundred forty five individuals who sought medical attention as a result of a motor vehicle accident (MVA), and who were initially assessed 1 to 4 months post-MVA, were followed up prospectively for 6 months to determine how many of the 55 with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the 43 with sub-syndromal PTSD would remit and what variables would predict remission. Thirty (55%) of those with initial PTSD had remitted at least in part by 6 months while 67% of those with sub-syndromal PTSD had remitted (and 5% had worsened). Four variables, including severity of initial symptoms, degree of initial physical injury, relative degree of physical recovery by 4 months and whether a close family member suffered a trauma during the follow-up interval, combined to classify 6-month clinical status of 84% of those with initial PTSD secondary to MVAs.
Blanchard
E B
EB
Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, University at Albany-SUNY 12203, USA.
Hickling
E J
EJ
Forneris
C A
CA
Taylor
A E
AE
Buckley
T C
TC
Loos
W R
WR
Jaccard
J
J
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy