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The Long-Term Psychiatric Consequences of Accidental Injury

A Longitudinal Study of 107 Adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Ulrik Malt
Ulrik Malt*
Affiliation:
University of Oslo; The National Hospital, N-0027 Oslo 1, Norway
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Abstract

One hundred and seven accidentally injured adults were studied while in hospital and assessed prospectively twice more in a mean period of 28 months. The patients were studied by means of taped clinical interviews, including the Comprehensive Psycho-pathological Rating Scale (which includes the Montgomery-åsberg Depression Rating Scale), and several self-report measures of distress (Schedule of Recent Life Events, General Health Questionnaire, Impact of Event Scale and State Anxiety Inventory) at the three assessments. The total incidence of psychiatric disorders considered to be caused by the accident during the follow-up period was 22.4%. The incidence of non-organic psychiatric disorders caused by the accident was 16.8% at the first follow-up and 9.3% at the final follow-up. Depressive disorders of different severity were most often seen. Only one patient suffered from a posttraumatic stress disorder during the follow-up, and none at the final follow-up (DSM-III). Organic mental disorders were diagnosed in 9.3% of the patients. In 5.6% of the patients this was the only disorder.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 153 , Issue 6 , December 1988 , pp. 810 - 818
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

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