The need for acute hospitals to provide counselling following motor vehicle accidents.

Abstract

This paper examines the need for a systematic way of detecting individuals likely to encounter moderate to severe psychological sequelae after being injured in a motor vehicle accident. It presents the findings of assessments of consecutive adult admissions during a six-month period to the Accident and Emergency Department of Royal Melbourne Hospital, a major acute hospital in Melbourne, within two days of being injured in a motor vehicle accident. Seventy of the 250 subjects surveyed completed the General Health Questionnaire 12 and the Impact of Event Scale questionnaire, with 77 per cent found likely to have had a psychiatric disorder. Seventy-four per cent had at least moderate levels of intrusion or avoidance phenomena. Forty-four per cent had severe levels of one or the other. Prevalence of these psychological sequelae was greater than that found in several recent studies on the effects of motor vehicle accidents. A small number (11-15 per cent) sought or received professional counselling within the first three months. This group did not differ, according to levels of intrusion, avoidance, or scores on the GHQ 12, to subjects who did not seek or receive such assistance. Results identify the necessity of investigating and implementing methods of detecting and treating the many who apparently sustain significant psychological sequelae following injury in a motor vehicle accident.