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Road traffic accidents: Early psychological consequences in children and adolescents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Alain Dl Gallo ,
Joanne Barton  and
William Li. Parry-Jones
Alain Dl Gallo*
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
Joanne Barton
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
William Li. Parry-Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
*
Dr Alain Di Gallo, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Glasgow, Caledonia House. Royal Hospital for Sick Children. Yorkhill, Glasgow G3 8SJ
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Abstract

Background

Although road traffic accidents are a major cause of injury and death in children and adolescents, research into their psychological consequences consists mainly of case reports.

Method

A prospective study was made of young road traffic accident victims; 57 subjects, aged 5–18 years, who had been injured in road traffic accidents, and their parents, were interviewed 2–16 days post-accident and re-examined after 12–15 weeks.

Results

Post-accident stress symptoms occurred at both times. There was a decrease of symptom severity between the two interviews, but at the later time, 14% still suffered from moderate or severe post-traumatic stress disorder, 17% from serious traffic-related fears, and parents reported increased mood disturbance in their children compared with the pre-accident period. High levels of distress during and immediately after the accident were associated with severe post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Conclusions

There is an urgent need for healthcare staff working with children and adolescents involved in road traffic accidents to be aware of the potential psychological consequences and the importance of the immediate accident experience on subsequent coping.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 170 , Issue 4 , April 1997 , pp. 358 - 362
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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