title: Post-traumatic stress reactions following motor vehicle accidents.
abstract: Despite improvements in road conditions, vehicle safety and driver education, over 3 million persons are injured in motor vehicle accidents each year. Many of these persons develop post-traumatic stress symptoms that can become chronic. Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder experience disabling memories and anxiety related to the traumatic event. Early identification of these patients is critical to allow for intervention and prevent greater impairment and restriction. The family physician is in an ideal position to identify, treat or refer patients with traumatic responses to traffic accidents. The physician's awareness of patient characteristics and pre-accident functioning allows him or her to critically evaluate symptoms that may begin to interfere with the resumption of daily activities.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Moffic
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Turkal
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013664:Teaching Materials