Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Characteristics of polytrauma patients with posttraumatic stress disorder in a level 1 trauma center

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aims

The aims of this study were to determine if the severity of injury is related to the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in polytrauma patients and to review the personality traits of patients with PTSD.

Methods

During 2006 and 2007, 252 polytrauma patients were treated at the Medical Centre Haaglanden in The Hague, The Netherlands. Of the 174 survivors, 53 adult patients were traced and sent questionnaires. They were screened for PTSD and personality traits, coping styles, and negative cognitions, and their level of social support were assessed.

Results

PTSD was demonstrated in 22.6% of the patients.

Conclusions

An increased level of neuroticism, negative cognitions regarding themselves, and active dealing were found to be significant predictors of PTSD. However, we found no relation between the injury severity score and the prevalence of PTSD

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. American Psychiatric Association (APA). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV-TR). 4th ed. Washington DC: APA; 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Trimbos Instituut. http://www.trimbos.nl (2010).

  3. de Vries GJ, Olff M. The lifetime prevalence of traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder in the Netherlands. J Trauma Stress. 2009;22:259–67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Breslau N, Kessler RC, Chilcoat HD, Schultz LR, Davis GC, Andreski P. Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in the community: the 1996 Detroit Area Survey of Trauma. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1998;55:626–32.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Zatzick D, Jurkovich G, Russo J, Roy-Byrne P, Katon W, Wagner A, Dunn C, Uehara E, Wisner D, Rivara F. Posttraumatic distress, alcohol disorders, and recurrent trauma across level 1 trauma centers. J Trauma. 2004;57:360–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Koren D, Norman D, Cohen A, Berman J, Klein EM. Increased PTSD risk with combat-related injury: a matched comparison study of injured and uninjured soldiers experiencing the same combat events. Am J Psychiatry. 2005;162:276–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Verger P, Dab W, Lamping DL, Loze JY, Deschaseaux-Voinet C, Abenhaim L, Rouillon F. The psychological impact of terrorism: an epidemiologic study of posttraumatic stress disorder and associated factors in victims of the 1995–1996 bombings in France. Am J Psychiatry. 2004;161:1384–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Barth J, Kopfmann S, Nyberg E, Angenendt J, Frommberger U. Posttraumatic stress disorders and extent of psychosocial impairments five years after a traffic accident. Psychosoc Med. 2005;:2:Doc09.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Wang CH, Tsay SL, Bond AE. Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and quality of life in patients with traffic-related injuries. J Adv Nurs. 2005;52:22–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Seethalakshmi R, Dhavale HS, Gawande S, Dewan M. Psychiatric morbidity following motor vehicle crashes: a pilot study from India. J Psychiatr Pract. 2006;12:415–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Brasel KJ, deRoon-Cassini T, Bradley CT. Injury severity and quality of life: whose perspective is important? J Trauma. 2010;68:263–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Ponsford J, Hill B, Karamitsios M, Bahar-Fuchs A. Factors influencing outcome after orthopedic trauma. J Trauma. 2008;64:1001–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Roberts NP, Kitchiner NJ, Kenardy J, Bisson J. Multiple session early psychological interventions for the prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(3):CD006869.

  14. Pfeifer R, Tarkin IS, Rocos B, Pape HC. Patterns of mortality and causes of death in polytrauma patients—has anything changed? Injury. 2009;40:907–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hyer L, Braswell L, Albrecht B, Boyd S, Boudewyns P, Talbert S. Relationship of NEO-PI to personality styles and severity of trauma in chronic PTSD victims. J Clin Psychol. 1994;50:699–707.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lee KA, Vaillant GE, Torrey WC, Elder GH. A 50-year prospective study of the psychological sequelae of World War II combat. Am J Psychiatry. 1995;152:516–22.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. McFarlane AC. The longitudinal course of posttraumatic morbidity. The range of outcomes and their predictors. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1988;176:30–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Talbert FS, Braswell LC, Albrecht JW, Hyer LA, Boudewyns PA. NEO-PI profiles in PTSD as a function of trauma level. J Clin Psychol. 1993;49:663–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Olff M, Langeland W, Gersons BPR. The psychobiology of PTSD: coping with trauma. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2005;30:974–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Biro M, Novović Z, Gavrilov V. Coping strategies in PTSD. Behav Cogn Psychother. 1997;25:365–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Lauterbach D, Vrana S. The relationship among personality variables, exposure to traumatic events, and severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms. J Traum Stress. 2001;14:29–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Amir M, Kaplan Z, Efroni R, Levine Y, Benjamin J, Kotler M. Coping styles in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients. Pers Individ Differ. 1997;23:399–405.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Davidson JR, Hughes D, Blazer DG, George LK. Post-traumatic stress disorder in the community: an epidemiological study. Psychol Med. 1991;21:713–21.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Brewin CR, Andrews B, Valentine JD. Meta-analysis of risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed adults. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2000;68:748–66.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Holeva V, Tarrier N, Wells A. Prevalence and predictors of acute stress disorder and PTSD following road traffic accidents: thought control strategies and social support. Behav Ther. 2001;32:65–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Connor-Smith JK, Flachsbart C. Relations between personality and coping: a meta-analysis. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2007;93(6):1080–107.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Jobson L, O’Kearney RT. Impact of cultural differences in self on cognitive appraisals in posttraumatic stress disorder. Behav Cogn Psychother. 2009;37(3):249–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Knight BG, Sayegh P. Cultural values and caregiving: the updated sociocultural stress and coping model. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2010;65B:5–13.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Taylor SE, Welch WT, Kim HS, Sherman DK. Cultural differences in the impact of social support on psychological and biological stress responses. Psychol Sci. 2007;18:831–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Wang SW, Shih JH, Hu AW, Louie JY, Lau AS. Cultural differences in daily support experiences. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2010;16:413–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Ditlevsen DN, Elklit A. The combined effect of gender and age on post traumatic stress disorder: do men and women show differences in the lifespan distribution of the disorder? Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2010;9:32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Petrie M, Zatzick D. Collaborative care interventions in general trauma patients. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2010;22:261–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Harris IA, Young JM, Rae H, Jalaludin BB, Solomon MJ. Predictors of general health after major trauma. J Trauma. 2008;64:969–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Medisch Centrum Haaglanden, The Hague, The Netherlands

    B. E. Kreis, S. A. G. Meylaerts & S. J. Rhemrev

  2. Department of Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    N. J. Y. Castano

  3. Department of Surgery–Traumatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    W. E. Tuinebreijer

  4. Department of Medical Psychology, Medisch Centrum Haaglanden, The Hague, The Netherlands

    L. C. A. Hoogenboom

  5. Groenoordstraat 16, 2316 AX, Leiden, The Netherlands

    B. E. Kreis

Authors
  1. B. E. Kreis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. J. Y. Castano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. W. E. Tuinebreijer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. L. C. A. Hoogenboom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. A. G. Meylaerts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. J. Rhemrev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. E. Kreis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kreis, B.E., Castano, N.J.Y., Tuinebreijer, W.E. et al. Characteristics of polytrauma patients with posttraumatic stress disorder in a level 1 trauma center. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 37, 269–275 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-011-0109-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-011-0109-2

Keywords