Citation

Prunas A, Iavarone V, Fiorletta A, Madeddu F. Riv. Psichiatr. 2009; 44(6): 409-417.

Vernacular Title

Le conseguenze psicologiche a breve termine degli incidenti stradali: una ricerca

Affiliation

Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Milano. antonio.prunas@unimib.it

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

20218220

Abstract

AIM: Aim of this study is to investigate short-term (3 and 5 months) psychological consequences of severe motor-vehicle accidents. METHODS: The sample under investigation is composed of two groups: 8 survivors of severe motor-vehicle accidents with spinal cord injuries (SCI) hospitalized in a Spinal Cord Unit, and 6 survivors who did not require hospitalization. All subjects were assessed twice, three and five months after the accident, on a variety of measures including the CAPS and the BDI-SF. RESULTS: Prevalence of PTSD in the total sample was, 3 months after the accident, 14% with no significant differences between the two groups; some peculiarities in the symptomathological profile emerged as much as subjects with SCI experience avoidance of trauma-related stimuli more frequently. An overall decline in frequency and severity of post-traumatic symptoms between the two assessments was observed in the total sample, though some components (Criterion C symptoms) showed no relevant variations over time. Finally, depressive symptoms, which were characterized by higher severity in the SCI group, showed a significant decline between the two assessments. DISCUSSION: Our data, although based on a limited sample, might help in tailoring psychological interventions for prevention and treatment of PTSD in survivors of severe motor accidents.

Language: it