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The ‘whiplash’ enigma: undetected psychological factors? A pilot study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

John D Sheehan ,
Ann Maguire ,
John P Ryan  and
Leo Vella
John D Sheehan
Affiliation:
York Clinic, Guy's Hospital, Borough High Street, London SEl 9RT, England (formerly Registrar at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland)
Leo Vella
Affiliation:
Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland
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Abstract

Studies in general medicine and general practice have shown that psychological disorder is frequently undetected and that it may exacerbate the morbidity of physical conditions. The aim of this study was to detect possible psychological disorder in patients with soft tissue neck injury (STNI) attending a 660 bed teaching hospital in Dublin. Using the General Health Questionnaire-30, 100 STNI patients were compared with 100 consecutive other attenders at the Accident and Emergency Department. There was a significantly greater prevalence in the frequency and severity of psychological disorder in the STNI group, who also were more likely to have a history of depression.

Keywords

WhiplashSoft tissue neck injuryPsychological disorder
Type
Brief Reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , December 1994 , pp. 170 - 172
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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