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Early Psychological Reactions in a Group of Individuals with Pre-existing and Enduring Mental Health Difficulties Following a Major Coach Accident

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Helen L. Chubb  and
Jonathan I. Bisson
Helen L. Chubb
Affiliation:
St Tydfil's Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 0SJ
Jonathan I. Bisson*
Affiliation:
University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff
*
Jonathan I. Bisson, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN. Fax: 01222 747839
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Abstract

Background

The impact of major trauma on individuals with pre-existing and enduring mental health difficulties is poorly understood.

Method

Twenty individuals with pre-existing and enduring mental health difficulties were assessed with the Clinician Administered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale, the 28-item version of the GHQ, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Impact of Event Scale between four and eight weeks after their involvement in a major coach accident.

Results

Ten (50%) individuals satisfied the full DSM–IV criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. The questionnaire scores indicated a high level of psychological suffering among the group. On dividing the sample into those individuals with previous diagnoses of anxiety or depressive disorders and those with a previous diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia, the schizophrenia group displayed less marked psychological sequelae on all measures.

Conclusion

There was a high incidence of early psychological sequelae among the group as a whole. Some diagnoses (e.g. depression and anxiety) may predispose to psychological sequelae while others (e.g. chronic schizophrenia) may not.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 169 , Issue 4 , October 1996 , pp. 430 - 433
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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