Citation

Norman SB, Stein MB, Dimsdale JE, Hoyt DB. Psychol. Med. 2008; 38(4): 533-542.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA 92103, USA. snorman@ucsd.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/S0033291707001389

PMID

17825121

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Identifying risk factors for the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is important for understanding and ultimately preventing the disorder. This study assessed pain shortly after traumatic injury (i.e. peritraumatic pain) as a risk factor for PTSD. METHOD: Participants (n=115) were patients admitted to a Level 1 Surgical Trauma Center. Admission to this service reflected a severe physical injury requiring specialized, emergent trauma care. Participants completed a pain questionnaire within 48 h of traumatic injury and a PTSD diagnostic module 4 and 8 months later. RESULTS: Peritraumatic pain was associated with an increased risk of PTSD, even after controlling for a number of other significant risk factors other than acute stress disorder symptoms. An increase of 0.5 s.d. from the mean in a 0-10 pain rating scale 24-48 h after injury was associated with an increased odds of PTSD at 4 months by more than fivefold, and at 8 months by almost sevenfold. A single item regarding amount of pain at the time of hospital admission correctly classified 65% of participants. CONCLUSIONS: If these findings are replicated in other samples, high levels of peritraumatic pain could be used to identify individuals at elevated risk for PTSD following traumatic injury.

Language: en