TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2009//
TI  - Short-term psychological consequences of car accidents: an empirical study
JO  - Rivista di psichiatria
A1  - Prunas, Antonio
A1  - Iavarone, Valentina
A1  - Fiorletta, Angela
A1  - Madeddu, Fabio
SP  - 409
EP  - 417
VL  - 44
IS  - 6
N2  - 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.<p />  <p>Language: it</p>
LA  - it
SN  - 0035-6484
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -