© 2001 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Outcome in consecutive emergency department attenders following a road traffic accident
Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
Correspondence: Professor Richard Mayou, Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX37JX, UK. Tel: 01865 226477; fax: 01865 793101
Declaration of interest The research was funded by the Wellcome Trust.
Background Little is known about the consequences of road traffic accidents.
Aims To determine psychological and social outcome at 3 months and 1 year following a road traffic accident.
Method A cohort study of a 1-year sample of consecutive attenders (n=1148) aged 17-69 years at the accident and emergency department of a teaching district general hospital (excluding major head injury). Data were extracted from medica notes and from self-report at baseline, 3 months and 1 year.
Results Most (61%) injuries were physically minor. At 1 year 45% reported major physical problems and 32% reported psychiatric consequences. Non-injury variables were the principal predictors of outcome.
Conclusions Outcome across a range of variables is considerably worse than would be expected from the nature of the physical injuries. There is a need for changes in clinical care and socio-legal policy to prevent, identify and treat distressing and disabling chronic problems.
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