PREDICTION OF REMISSION OF ACUTE POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER IN MOTOR-VEHICLE ACCIDENT VICTIMS

One hundred forty five individuals who sought medical attention as a r esult of a motor vehicle accident (MVA) and who were initially assesse d 1 to 4 months post-MVA, were followed up prospectively for 6 months to determine how many of the 55 with posttraumatic stress disorder (PT SD) and the 43 with sub-syndromal PTSD would remit and what variables would predict remission. Thirty (55%) of those with initial PTSD had r emitted at least in part by 6 months while 67% of those with sub-syndr omal PTSD had remitted (and 5% had worsened). Four variables, includin g severity of initial symptoms, degree of initial physical injury, rel ative degree of physical recovery by 4 months and whether a close fami ly member suffered a trauma during the follow-up interval, combined to classify 6-month clinical status of 84% of those with initial PTSD se condary to MVAs.