Posttraumatic stress among hospitalized and nonhospitalized survivors of serious car crashes: a population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the prevalence of posttraumatic stress among survivors of serious injury-producing car crashes.


METHODS
This population-based prospective cohort study, conducted in New Zealand, recruited hospitalized car occupants (passengers and drivers) as well as nonhospitalized drivers after a crash in which at least one occupant was hospitalized. Fifty-nine hospitalized passengers (62%) and 209 drivers (72%) completed five- and 18-month interviews. The Impact of Event Scale assessed symptoms of posttraumatic stress.


RESULTS
At five months 28% of hospitalized passengers, 24% of hospitalized drivers, and 24% of nonhospitalized drivers reported symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder. At 18 months, 23% of hospitalized passengers, 11% of hospitalized drivers, and 7% of nonhospitalized drivers reported significant levels of stress.


CONCLUSIONS
Strategies to prevent disabling sequelae of crashes must address the needs of hospitalized and nonhospitalized survivors.
Ameratunga
Shanthi
S
Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland, New Zealand. s.ameratunga@auckland.ac.nz
Tin Tin
Sandar
S
Coverdale
John
J
Connor
Jennie
J
Norton
Robyn
R
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult