[Trauma, traumatic stress and depression following an airline catastrophy].
OBJECTIVE
Acute stress responses following a trauma indicate a sensitivity to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and is often comorbid with depression. Earlier exposure to a traumatic event can be an additional risk factor in PTSD development.


METHODS
Eight injured patients hospitalized after a major air disaster were monitored and assessed for a month. The symptoms of acute stress response (ASR), PTSD, and depression were assessed using DSM-IV criteria immediately following the accident, then each week thereafter. The Impact of Event Scale (IES) was completed on the 30th day (D30).


RESULTS
Four patients presented with an ASR, and 3 of them had a PTSD at D30. Of those 3 patients with PTSD, 2 presented with an associated depression. These 2 patients had been exposed to a traumatic event before the disaster; and a significant relation was found between the history of the earlier trauma and the PTSD associated with depression.


CONCLUSIONS
The traumatized victims with a history of earlier traumas seem more susceptible to developing a PTSD associated with depression.
Birmes
P
P
Service Universitaire de psychiatrie et psychologie médicale, Hôpital Purpan-Casselardit, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, place Baylac, F-31059 Toulouse, France. birmes.p@chu-toulouse.fr
Ducassé
J L
JL
Warner
B A
BA
Payen
A
A
Schmitt
L
L
D000060:Accidents, Aviation / Q000523:psychology*; D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology