Psychosocial aspects of road traffic trauma--benefits of an early intervention?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the psychosocial consequences of traffic accidents, and to evaluate the effect of an intervention programme to reduce the occurrence and extent of psychosocial residual states.


METHODS
A telephone interview was conducted with 314 individuals, 1(1/2)-2 years after the accident in 1994-1995. The effect of the intervention programme was studied for inpatients, 68 in the study group, and 89 in the control group. The structured follow-up form included the Impact of Event Scale (IES).


RESULTS
Half of those injured had residual physical complaints with negative effects on their work- and economic-situation. An influence on housing or the need for practical assistance was reported by 1-7%. Mental effects were reported by 4/5. IES demonstrated that 1/5 suffered a high degree of intrusion, and this occurred twice as often among females as among males. Situational anxiety occurred more often in the intervention group than in the control group, p=0.02. More individuals in the intervention group than in the control group were satisfied with the medical certificate to the insurance company, p=0.058.


CONCLUSIONS
Females were afflicted by mental effects considerably more than males. The intervention programme did not appear to reduce the psychosocial sequelae. The methods within this area need to be further developed.
Kuratorsavdelningen, Department of Geriatrics and Rehabilitation, Uddevalla Hospital, NU Hospital Organization, S-45180 Uddevalla, Sweden.
Anna-Lena
AL
Andersson
Lars-Olof
LO
Dahlbäck
Olle
O
Bunketorp
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000523:psychology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation