@article{ref1,
title="Posttraumatic stress among hospitalized and nonhospitalized survivors of serious car crashes: A population-based study",
journal="Psychiatric services",
year="2009",
author="Ameratunga, Shanthi N. and Tin Tin, Sandar and Coverdale, John and Connor, J. and Norton, R.",
volume="60",
number="3",
pages="402-404",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the prevalence of posttraumatic stress among survivors of serious injury-producing car crashes. METHODS: This population-based prospective cohort study, conducted in New Zealand, recruited hospitalized car occupants (passengers and drivers) as well as nonhospitalized drivers after a crash in which at least one occupant was hospitalized. Fifty-nine hospitalized passengers (62%) and 209 drivers (72%) completed five- and 18-month interviews. The Impact of Event Scale assessed symptoms of posttraumatic stress. RESULTS: At five months 28% of hospitalized passengers, 24% of hospitalized drivers, and 24% of nonhospitalized drivers reported symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder. At 18 months, 23% of hospitalized passengers, 11% of hospitalized drivers, and 7% of nonhospitalized drivers reported significant levels of stress. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies to prevent disabling sequelae of crashes must address the needs of hospitalized and nonhospitalized survivors.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1075-2730",
doi="10.1176/appi.ps.60.3.402",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.60.3.402"
}