A study on acute stress, post-traumatic stress disorder and quality of life in injured accident survivors admitted to Rasht Porsina Hospital during 2009-10

Background: There is limited information on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of injured accident survivors. The aim of the present study was to assess acute stress, post traumatic stress disorder and health-related quality of life in injured accident survivors. Materials and Methods: Eighty-eight patients admitted to the orthopaedics and trauma surgery department of Rasht Porsina Hospital were enrolled to this descriptive study. SRS- PTSD (post-traumatic stress) and SF-36 (short-form of health-related quality of life) questionnaires were completed and assessed one week and two months after the accident. Results: Acute stress of the first week of the accident was found to be an independent predictor of post-traumatic stress of two months later. Regression analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between position of the survivor as a driver and score of post-traumatic stress disorder two months post-accident (P=0.024). The results also showed a statistically significant improvement in physical function (P=0.005), lack of improvement in role limitations due to physical injury (P=0.02), no improvement in mental function including mental health (P=0.001), role limitations due to emotional problems (P=0.01) and vitality (P=0.001). Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between PTSD and quality of life of the injured survivors. The return of injured accident survivors to pre-injury HRQOL may depend not only on optimal medical care but also on awareness and timely interventions regarding PTSS