PTSD, guilt, and shame among reckless drivers

Abstract

This study examines posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), guilt, and shame among men convicted of having caused death through reckless driving. It also examines the contribution of sociodemographic variables, accident-related variables, and punishment-related variables to these outcomes. Seventy-five men participated in the study, 38 who accidentally caused the death of another in a road accident and 37 matched controls. Findings show that drivers who accidentally caused the death of another are a high-risk group for PTSD and accident-related guilt. The findings also reveal that PTSD and guilt are associated with severity of the punishment, degree of responsibility the driver assumes for the accident, and the driver's sense that he could have prevented the accident. Clinical implications are discussed.