title: Anxiety after a fall in elderly subjects and subsequent risk of developing post traumatic stress disorder at two months. A pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The psychological burden suffered by elderly subjects after a fall adds to rehabilitation difficulties. We hypothesised that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may be at the root of these psychological post-fall problems. The immediate psychological state was examined after 2 months post-fall in order to determine the prevalence of anxiety and PTSD and their possible correlates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single centre prospective survey including elderly subjects referred to an emergency department (ED) after a fall with a 2-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  30.5% of patients showed a significant level of anxiety after their fall and (26%) showed evidence supporting the presence of PTSD at 2-months. Immediate anxiety, ability to re-establish upright posture and a history of repeated falls were significant predictors of PTSD at 2-months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  persistent psychological problems post fall may be related to PTSD which is significantly correlated to immediate anxiety. This study can be seen as a first step in patient characterisation, and predicts who may benefit from which of the various approaches of rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Dr F. Bloch, Hôpital Broca, 54/56 rue Pascal, 75013 Paris, France. Phone / Fax: +331 44 08 35 21 / +331 44 08 35 25, E-mail: frederic.bloch@brc.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blandin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ranerison
authors.forename: Y E
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Claessens
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rigaud
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kemoun
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012046:Rehabilitation; D012306:Risk; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors