Long-term outcome of motor vehicle accident injury.
OBJECTIVE
To define the psychological outcome at 5 years of a sample of non-head-injured motor vehicle accident victims and identify baseline predictors.


METHODS
Self-report questionnaires were completed by 111 consecutive subjects who had been injured in a motor vehicle accident 5 years earlier and who had been assessed previously in a prospective 1-year study.


RESULTS
Although most subjects reported a good outcome, a substantial minority described continuing social, physical, and psychological difficulties and a quarter of those studied suffered phobic anxiety about travel as a driver or passenger. There was little change in quality of life outcome and effects on travel between assessments at 3 months, 1 year, and 5 years. The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder remained approximately 10% throughout the follow-up; most early cases had remitted by 5 years, and a similar number of delayed new onsets had occurred between 1 year and 5 years. PTSD at 5 years was predicted by physical outcome and by postaccident intrusive memories and emotional distress. Compensation proceedings were initiated by 66 subjects and were often prolonged and a cause of distress. There were no significant associations with outcome. Trends for a poor outcome in claimants, especially those not settled at 5 years, may be due to their having more serious physical problems.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychological complications are important and persistent after injury in a motor vehicle accident, are associated with adverse effects on everyday activities, and pose a challenge for consultation-liaison psychiatry.
Mayou
R
R
University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Tyndel
S
S
Bryant
B
B
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007346:Insurance, Accident; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation