Predictors of psychological distress following serious injury

Posttraumatic psychological distress was assessed in 109 survivors of serio us physical injury during acute hospitalization and at 3 months postdischar ge. Participants had an average of 4.4 injuries, with a mean injury severit y score of 15.5 denoting moderate to severe injuries. Using the Impact of E vent Scale (IES), the mean total IES score in-hospital was 22.5 and at 3 mo nths postdischarge was 30.6 Approximately 32% of individuals experienced hi gh levels of distress in-hospital, and this increased to 49% at 3 months po stdischarge. The regression model that best explained the variance in postt raumatic psychological distress at 3 months postdischarge included greater psychological distress during hospitalization, a positive drug/alcohol scre en on hospital admission, younger age, and the lack of anticipating problem s returning to normal life activities. These findings suggest that factors present during acute hospitalization may be used to identify individuals at risk for increased psychological distress, several months following seriou s physical injury.