Fractures May Cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Sports injuries may cause psychological as well as physical pain

According to research published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery people who suffer a traumatic injury, such as a fracture, may also develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In one study orthopedic surgeons found that 51 percent of patients who had sustained some type of fracture went on to develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Symptoms of PTSD include recurrent flashbacks of traumatic events, anxiety, depression, insomnia, jumpiness and irritability.

For the study, researchers gave a standard PTSD questionnaire to 580 patients seen in an acute care facility after a trauma. The researchers plan to follow up this study with another that compares the rate of post traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety between trauma patients who get cognitive behavioral therapy and those get the current standard of care, which is no psychological treatment.

Also See: PTSD Screening Quiz

Source: Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, June 2004.