Heart rate of motor vehicle accident survivors in the emergency department, peritraumatic psychological reactions, ASD, and PTSD severity: A 6‐month prospective study

Abstract

This small-scale study investigates the relationships between the heart rate of motor vehicle accident survivors presenting in the emergency department (ED) and acute stress disorder (ASD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity. It also examines the relationships between the survivor's heart rate in the ED and peritraumatic dissociation and peritraumatic distress reported 2 weeks posttrauma. Fifty motor vehicle accident (MVA) survivors were assessed 2 weeks, 1 (N = 42), 3 (N = 37), and 6 months (N = 37) post-MVA. The heart rate in the ED predicted self-reported ASD symptom severity and clinician-rated PTSD symptom severity at 6 months but not at 1 or 3 months. Survivors' heart rate in the ED was significantly correlated with peritraumatic dissociation but not peritraumatic distress. These findings support the role of elevated ED heart rate as a predictor of both ASD and chronic PTSD symptom severity and may help to clarify the discrepant findings of previous research.

Peritraumatic Distress in Accident Survivors: An Indicator for Posttraumatic Stress, Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms, and Posttraumatic Growth

“…Although some previous prospective studies have failed to show that this Inventory is an independent predictor of posttraumatic stress disorder, these studies used the Inventory from 2 weeks (Kuhn et al, 2006) to several months (Birmes et al, 2005;Simeon et al, 2005) following a traumatic event.…”

Heterogeneity in the course of posttraumatic stress disorder: Trajectories of symptomatology

“…Most of the research on course has, to date, used samples of motor vehicle accident survivors (e.g., Bryant, Harvey, Guthrie, & Moulds, 2003;Kuhn, Blanchard, Fuse, Hickling, & Broderick, 2006), which has questionable generalizability to the military. Variables that have been identified in these studies as predictors of worsening over time include female gender, persistent medical problems, increased heart rate at initial posttrauma assessment, and psychiatric comorbidity.…”

Peritraumatic Distress and the Course of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis

“…[3][4][5] However, several studies report varying, albeit significant, correlation coefficients between the PDI and PTSD symptom measures. [6][7][8] This variability may be due, in part, to these studies assessing PTSD symptoms from 1 month to several years after trauma exposure. Considering that PTSD is not a trait, but rather a state condition, which changes over time, the effects of peritraumatic distress may be expected to diminish over time as other factors, such as avoidance, life stressors, or lack of social support, emerge to maintain the disorder.…”