A STUDY OF PATIENT-RELATED CHARACTERISTICS AND OUTCOME AFTER MODERATEINJURY

The purpose of all injury care is to; restore patients' pre-injury fun ctioning and to facilitate the return to normal activities. The aim of this prospective study was to describe and analyse psychiatric factor s and other patient-related characteristics which influence long-term results after moderate injuries. One hundred and sixty-nine injured pa tients were randomized to go through a comprehensive psychosocial rese arch protocol and to participate in the 12 month follow up. The 49 pat ients lost to follow-up differed significantly from all other patients . They were more often single, blue-collar workers with a lower educat ional level and had a less favourable psychosocial background, includi ng alcohol abuse. The 120 patients who completed the follow-up were di vided in two groups: the non-recovered group (NR, N=58), patients repo rting limitations in performing their work and/or limitations in carry ing out housework and/or in social life, and the recovered group (R, N =62), patients reporting full recovery or only minor limitations in ex ercise or sports 22 months after the injury. The NR patients were olde r (P<0.05), had a slightly higher Injury Severity Score (P<0.01) and s howed signs of depression both during the acute post-injury period and at I year follow up (P<0.001). The multivariate analysis showed that measurements of pain and depression during the acute post-injury perio d were associated with the functional outcome after 12 months. Co-oper ation between injury and psychiatric units should be developed to iden tify patients needing psychosocial or psychiatric support during the e arly phase of rehabilitation. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.