The Risk of PTSD After a Car Accident

The Risk of PTSD After a Car Accident PTSD Causes Print The Risk of PTSD After a Car Accident By Matthew Tull, PhD twitter Matthew Tull, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Toledo, specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder. Learn about our editorial policy Matthew Tull, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on November 17, 2019 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD on November 17, 2019 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes & Risk Factors Treatment Living With In Children Image Source / Getty Images Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) are the leading cause of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the general population.?? Each year, there are an estimated six million MVAs in the United States, resulting in over 2.5 million injuries.?? According to a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) study, 39.2% of MVA survivors develop PTSD. Risk Factors Several factors have been found to increase the risk of developing PTSD,?? including: History of prior traumaPrior psychological adjustment problemsFamily history of psychopathologyPerceived life threat to self or othersLacking social support after the traumatic eventHigh levels of emotion (e.g., fear, helplessness, horror, guilt, or shame) during or immediately after the traumatic eventDissociation during or immediately after the traumatic event Predictors of PTSD Studies of MVA survivors paint a similar picture in some regards. Interestingly, studies have not found much support for the influence of specific characteristics of the accident (such as how severe it was or whether the driver or passengers were injured) on the development of PTSD. Instead, there is more support for the influence of how the person perceives and subsequently responds to the accident. For example, a 2012 study found that the perception that your life was in danger was the strongest predictor for PTSD six months after the trauma. Another study found that avoidance behaviors, the suppression of thoughts about the car accident, rumination about the trauma, and dissociation were most strongly connected with PTSD symptoms two to six months after an accident. A strong perception that your life was in danger during a car accident can lead to avoidance behaviors (for example, not getting in a car or going on the highway), which in turn can increase the likelihood of PTSD. Such avoidance strengthens the belief that driving is dangerous, a thought pattern that can maintain your fear response. The avoidance of thoughts and emotions can interfere with the healthy processing of your emotions, which can also increase the risk of PTSD.?? What to Look Out For It is normal to feel a flood of emotions, including shock, guilt, grief, helplessness, confusion, and fear, immediately following a car accident. However, with PTSD, these feelings dont go away over time and can actually get worse. According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), you may have PTSD if you experienced or witnessed a serious trauma, such as a car accident, and develop some of the following symptoms: Avoidance behaviorsIntrusive memoriesChanges in emotional reactionsNegative changes in thinking and mood Any or all of these symptoms may also occur as part of your bodys natural response to a traumatic life event. In people who dont develop PTSD, these symptoms should naturally subside over time. If you notice your symptoms are getting more severe and/or more frequent, if youre avoiding more situations, or your symptoms are beginning to interfere with your life, then you may be at risk for developing PTSD. Symptoms and Diagnosis of PTSD Getting Help There are a number of effective treatments for PTSD. Therapy techniques such as cognitive processing therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can give you the skills necessary to cope with the emotional and mental part of your experience. Certain medications may also be helpful in managing PTSD symptoms. You can take comfort in knowing that after identifying your symptoms and seeking the appropriate treatment, you can begin to recover. How PTSD Is Treated