@article{ref1,
title="Whiplash in Australia: illness or injury?",
journal="Medical journal of Australia",
year="1992",
author="Awerbuch, M. S.",
volume="157",
number="3",
pages="193-196",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To provide a perspective on &quot;whiplash&quot; injury in Australia by examining conflicting evidence, which suggests on the one hand that the disorder is a culturally conditioned and legally sanctioned illness and on the other, that it is an occult injury which can cause chronic pain. DATA SOURCES: The published English language literature derived from MEDLINE covering epidemiological, pathogenetic and psychological aspects of &quot;whiplash&quot; injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, abnormal illness behaviour and iatrogenicity; the Australian legal literature; the printed news media; the Transport Accident Commission of Victoria and the State Government Insurance Commission of South Australia. DATA SYNTHESIS AND CONCLUSIONS: Comparative studies suggest that &quot;whiplash&quot; is an illness reinforced by legal and social sanction. Evidence from Victoria indicates that the reported incidence of &quot;whiplash&quot; can be reduced by minor legislative change. Occult injury to cervical intervertebral discs, vertebral end plates and cervical zygapophysial joints may be responsible for &quot;whiplash&quot; symptoms in some who are involved in motor vehicle accidents. This is likely to be confined to a small number of those involved in unexpected rear-end collisions.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0025-729X",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}