Posttraumatic stress disorder (psychiatric injury) after road traffic accidents in forensic medicine: a primary study / 法医学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#Studying forensic medical problem related with RTA leading PTSD and supplying accumulating evidence for psychiatric compensation in court.@*METHODS@#One hundred and fifty six victims of RTA were recruited who applied to court for a costs order. The victims were examined for psychiatric diagnosis by psychiatrists and for rank of impairment by experts in forensic clinical medicine. The self-report psychopathological status and quality of life were also measured.@*RESULTS@#Eighty one victims of 156 (51.92%) fulfilled the criteria for PTSD (ICD-10). Morbidity difference in male and female were significant; The more serious extent of impairment is, the more PTSD'possibility is; The scores in World Health Organization Quality of Life were lower and in SAS and SDS were higher in PTSD group than in non-PTSD group. Acquirement of awarded costs could obviously prevent PTSD.@*CONCLUSION@#The higher PTSD incidence existed in the RTA victims who applied to court for a costs order, and acquirement of awarded costs could obviously prevent PTSD.