A randomised controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of an early psychological intervention with children involved in road traffic accidents.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether an early intervention using a psychological debriefing format is effective in preventing psychological distress in child road traffic accident survivors.


METHODS
Randomised controlled trial.


METHODS
Accident and Emergency Department, Royal United Hospital, Bath.


METHODS
158 children aged 7-18. Follow-up assessment completed eight months post accident with 132 (70/82 of the experimental group and 62/76 in the control group).


METHODS
Self-completed measures of psychological distress; fulfilment of diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder.


RESULTS
Children in both groups demonstrated considerable improvements at follow-up. The early intervention did not result in any additional significant gains.


CONCLUSIONS
Although children in this study made significant improvements it is unclear whether these are better or worse than natural recovery rates. The specific intervention did not result in additional gains although the structured assessment provided for both groups may have been helpful in reducing subsequent pathology.
Stallard
Paul
P
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust/University of Bath, UK. paul.stallard@awp.nhs.uk
Velleman
Richard
R
Salter
Emma
E
Howse
Imogen
I
Yule
William
W
Taylor
Gordon
G
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology