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Car Accidents Found As Leading Cause of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

According to a recent book published by the American Psychological Association, car accidents are the leading cause of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A support website for the disorder, www.ptsdsupport.net, reports the APA News Release regarding the book, After the Crash: Assessment and Treatment of Motor Vehicle Accident Survivors (Blanchard, Hickling, et. al). According to the site, the findings reveal that between 10 and 45 percent of those involved in automobile accidents "which cause serious bodily injury and psychological distress" suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In addition to the disorder being a national health problem in general, it also leads to more minor symptoms that have a major psychological impact on the nation as a whole: "having trouble on the job and in school," experiencing difficulty "maintaining friendships" and "not being able to enjoy leisure time." Since driving has become a daily necessity for most people, treatment for the disorder is essential in order for car accident victims to return to vehicles as drivers or passengers without "experiencing severe anxiety."

What exactly is PTSD? Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, according to the National Center for PTSD, is "an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event." During the event, "you think that your life or others’ lives are in danger. You may feel afraid or feel that you have no control over what is happening." After a car accident or another traumatic event, shock, anger, guilt, and nervousness are common responses; if the event was serious, involved deaths, or occurred after another traumatic experience, however, these symptoms can develop into PTSD. Other symptoms include reliving the terrible event (whether through nightmares, flashbacks, or other forms of bad memories), avoiding any situations related to the traumatic experience (like refusing to drive on the road on which a wreck occurred or be placed in a similar circumstance), distancing yourself from others or finding difficulty expressing feelings, and hyperarousal (being always "on the alert" and "on guard").

Although treatment for PTSD varies, two common types of treatments are cognitive-behavioral therapy (a form of counseling) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Medications are often used for treatment as well. According to the PTSD support website, treatment can help survivors of car accidents "get beyond their very traumatic experience" and overcome their symptoms by thinking about the event "in healthier ways." Whether your symptoms just developed or have endured for a number of years, treatment is essential (and helpful) for overcoming the negative ways in which Posttraumatic Stress Disorder affects your daily activities or life in general.

Our law firm handles car accident, serious accident, and fatal accident cases that resulted in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. If you have been injured or psychologically affected by your own accident or an accident in which you lost a loved one (due to another’s negligence), call us at 770-577-3020 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney. There is absolutely no obligation.