The psychological impact of accidents on recreational divers: a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to examine the medium and long term psychological impact of diving accidents on the victims (n=52), compared with the impact on two control groups: the victim's diving "buddy" (n=40) who simply witnessed the accident, and a second control from the same boat who did not dive with the victim (n=38).


METHODS
This was a prospective cohort study of the impact of an accident on the victims who attended the Hyperbaric Unit, in comparison with the two control groups. Pre-accident psychological morbidity was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire. Trauma symptoms were assessed using the Revised Impact of Events Scale at 3, 6 and 12 months post accident.


RESULTS
The accident victims endorsed more trauma symptoms and experienced them more intensely and for longer, compared with the two control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant minority of diving accident victims (between 25% and 50%) continued to suffer from the psychological impact of the accident, some for over a year. This has important implications for their future health care, for their safety on subsequent dives, and for dive training.
Orkney Hyperbaric Unit, Old Academy, Stromness, Orkney KW16 3AW, UK. andrew.trevett@nhs.net
Andrew
A
Trevett
David
D
Peck
Robert
R
Forbes
D000059:Accidents / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004242:Diving; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011998:Recreation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult