RESUMO
Post traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] is a traumatic event that results in re-experience of the events, avoidance, emotional numbing and persistent symptoms of increased arousal. In addition, people have reported decreased satisfaction in every day activities, sexual life as well as lack of satisfaction in their friendship. Studies reported that road-traffic accidents [RTAs] are the most common causes of PTSD symptoms among the general population. The annual statistical medical record of Saudi Arabia relating to RTA reports that 140,280 survivors were admitted to the emergency department through the year 1425 H. Following this traumatic event the majority of those survivors may develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD] that can delay their physical recovery and result in long-standing psychological, social and biological consequences. Victims of road traffic accidents who are at risk for developing this disorder need to be identified early to allow for early intervention and prevent greater impairment and restriction. The critical and psychiatric nurses are in an ideal position to identified treat, or refer patients with traumatic responses to psychiatric counseling. The nurse awareness of PTSD's risk factors or predictors allows her to critically evaluate symptoms that may begin to interfere with the resumption of daily activities. Given prompt intervention, most sufferers can recover fully and return to normal lives. Interventions can then be initiated before the onset of PTSD in hopes of preventing this debilitating disorder. Hence, this study aims to assess PTSD among patients who admitted to the King Fahd University Hospital 3-6 months following their exposure to traffic accidents and to identify the risk factors associated with the development of this disorder. The subjects of this study consisted of all patients who were exposed to traffic accidents and who were admitted to the emergency department, surgical, neurosurgical, and orthopedic ward of King Fahd University Hospital in the period range from 5 Jan to 20 Jun 2005. These patients were interviewed personally using the following scales: the Abbreviated Injury Scale, The impact of Evidence Scale, The Beck Depression Inventory, and the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale. In addition the patient completed a developed list of risk factors for post traumatic stress disorders. The results of the study show that 62.2%of the road accident persons had PTSD among them 18.9% suffer from severe PTSD. The most significant risk factors were, the patient age, level of education. Type of injury, the severity of physical injury, degree of anxiety and Depression