Post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology in a traumatically injured population

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between non-combat traumatic injury and the occurrence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptomatology. The animal model of inescapable shock (IS) provided a physiological rationale for the nursing interventions discussed relative to decreasing the negative impact of a traumatic injury. Traumatically injured subjects (n = 33) completed the Modified Late Effects of Accidental Injury Questionnaire, Part I (MLEAIQ-I) to assess any late negative effects subsequent to the traumatic injury, Part II (MLEAIQ-II) to measure the incidence of symptomatology associated with PTSD, and the Revised Impact of Event Scale (RIES) to measure PTSD symptomatology as defined by intrusion and avoidance experiences. No statistically significant relationships were found between PTSD symptomatology and subject injury severity, length of hospital stay, or subject reported late negative effects from a traumatic injury. However, the level of PTSD symptomatology among the subjects was moderate to high.