TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1992//
TI  - Predictive value of psychological screening in acute hand injuries
JO  - Journal of hand surgery (American volume)
A1  - Grunert, Brad K.
A1  - Hargarten, Stephen W.
A1  - Matloub, H. S.
A1  - Sanger, J. R.
A1  - Hanel, Douglas P.
A1  - Yousif, N. J.
SP  - 196
EP  - 199
VL  - 17
IS  - 2
N2  - Difficulties in adjustment frequently accompany severe hand injuries. The purpose of this study was to determine whether presurgical screening could predict long-term adjustment problems. One hundred thirteen patients with severe hand injuries completed a presurgical questionnaire evaluating flashbacks, avoidance, and causal factors pertaining to the injury. Patients were evaluated by a psychologist within 5 days after surgery and again 6 months later. Flashbacks initially occurred with equal frequency in occupationally and nonoccupationally injured groups. At 6-month follow-up 50% of the occupationally injured patients and 25% of the nonoccupationally injured patients had flashbacks. Avoidance of the activity at which patients were injured was also assessed. Among occupationally injured patients, 52% initially reported no avoidance compared with 17% at follow-up. Patients with nonoccupational injuries showed more initial avoidance (68%), with slightly less at follow-up (61%). Of the occupationally injured patients, 46% initially reported personal error or fatigue as the cause of their injury, but only 6% reported this as the cause at follow-up; it is interesting that at 6-month follow-up 81% of this group reported machine failure or lack of safeguards. Among nonoccupationally injured patients, 71% reported personal error as the cause of injury presurgically and 66% at 6-month follow-up. Presurgical screening appears to be a valid means of identifying persons at risk of ongoing adjustment problems after hand injury. A screening interview can easily be conducted in less than 5 minutes.
LA  - 
SN  - 0363-5023
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -