title: Preliminary study on the relationship between visitation in the emergency department and posttraumatic mental health.
abstract: This study documented family/friend support to patients in the Emergency Department (ED), including bedside visits and transportation of patients from the ED after discharge, and measured depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms within 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months after motor vehicle accidents. Stress and depression symptoms significantly decreased during the initial three months. Family/friend visitation in the ED was negatively associated with anxiety and depression symptoms within 2 weeks and with stress symptoms months after trauma. This pilot study suggests family/friend visitation in the ED is associated with fewer mental health issues in the months following an accident.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo OH.
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lubomirsky
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo OH; Radiology, University of Toledo, Toledo OH; Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo OH.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences, University of Toledo, Toledo OH.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo OH.
authors.forename: Jennifer B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Smirnoff
authors.affiliation: Psychology, University of Toledo, Toledo OH.
authors.forename: Tracey L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Biehn
authors.affiliation: Psychology, University of Toledo, Toledo OH.
authors.forename: Ateka A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Contractor
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo OH; Psychology, University of Toledo, Toledo OH.
authors.forename: Jon D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Elhai
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo OH.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sutu
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine, University of Toledo, Toledo OH.
authors.forename: Kristopher R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Brickman
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Liberzon
authors.affiliation: Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC.
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo OH.
authors.forename: Marijo B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Tamburrino
keywords: Emergency Department; MVA; familial/friend visitation; social support