The psychological consequences of traffic accidents

A summary of the psychological consequences associated with traffic accidents.

The operation of vehicles is essential for the maintenance of society, for without them, any minimally distant task in space would take too long. Thanks to a car, we can cross any country in a matter of days or weeks, with minimal monetary effort. Having a car gives us immeasurable freedom, but also a vital responsibility that we cannot forget.

The Association for Safe International Road Travel estimates that 1.35 million people die each year in traffic accidents, which translates into almost 3,700 deaths every 24 hours. In addition, 20 to 50 million patients suffer non-fatal injuries in these events that cause emotional distress or long-term disability. For all these reasons, traffic accidents are the leading cause of death between the ages of 5 and 29.

We could go on citing studies and figures for hours, but we all have in mind that the responsibility behind the wheel is greater than in almost any other routine activity. Based on all these ideas, we show you here the psychological consequences of traffic accidents.

The physical prognosis after an accident

Without any doubt, the physiological well-being is the first thing to take into account after a collision in a vehicle, since some of the injuries produced in these events can end the life of those involved in a matter of seconds. The publication Motor Vehicle collisions, published on the StatPearls portal, shows us some general realities regarding this issue:

• Head-on and near collisions result in steering wheel (or dashboard) impacts to front seat passengers.
• Injuries to the head, neck, chest and abdomen are to be expected and normal.
• Pulmonary contusions and broken ribs should be suspected if the impact has been frontal or to the sides of the trunk.
• Patients with a high body mass index (BMI) are more likely to be injured than the general population.
• Improperly positioned belts promote patient injuries to the lower extremities, pelvic area and abdominal area.
• Rear impacts increase the risk of neck flexion and extension injuries and the possibility of spinal fractures.

On the other hand, any trauma that manifests with systemic clinical signs and symptoms should be considered as potentially dangerous, since a spinal fracture should always be suspected. If the spinal cord (the body's central nervous system) is irreparably damaged, it is common for the patient to present complete or incomplete paralysis. Tetraplegia is the leading cause of admission (48%) to hospitals specializing in patients with loss of mobility..

How do traffic accidents affect mental health?

When a human being is faced with a traumatic or dangerous event, it is normal for him/her to acquire fear and insecurity when it comes to practicing it again. There are countless testimonies of people who have suffered minimal accidents with their vehicle, but who in turn feel that they are "going to crash" for a while after the event.

This is completely normal. Whether by social construct or as part of an evolutionary mechanism, every species tends to avoid what has endangered its life in the first instance. It is a natural protection mechanism, but if it extends over time or if it expands to other areas of life, it can become a pathological condition. The following are the main psychological conditions experienced by people after a traffic accident.

1. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Contrary to popular belief, not all traffic accidents or traumatic events lead to PTSD. According to studies, 60 to 80% of people in the world are confronted with a traumatic event during their lifetime, but only 5 to 10% of them actually develop PTSD.. In the automotive setting, only 1 in 10 drivers who describe the crash as "traumatic" end up manifesting signs of PTSD.

What we want to say with these lines is that every patient after a traffic accident should focus on healing physically, and not increase the emotional burden and stress believing that it will develop a greater picture. However, it never hurts to know the intrusive symptoms of PTSD. the intrusive symptoms of PTSDThe intrusive symptoms of PTSD, as outlined by the American Psychological Association:

• Recurrent, involuntary thoughts associated with the traumatic event.
• Distressing nightmares (which may be repetitive) based on the traumatic event.
• Dissociative reactions (flashbacks) in which the patient feels that the traumatic event is taking place again.
• Intense and prolonged psychological distress when the patient is reminded of the event.
• Marked physiological reactivity (rapid breathing or increased Heart rate) when recalling the event.

Undoubtedly, all these symptoms are reason to visit a mental health professional, as PTSD is a clinical entity that must be treated.

2. Anxiety

Defining the boundary between "trait" and "pathology" with anxiety is quite complex. Feeling anxiety after a traffic accident is completely normal, as sometimes the life of those involved has been in danger.

It is estimated that 70% of people who have been in a serious crash have anxiety for up to a month after the eventwhile 15% develop generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The latter is characterized by the duration of symptoms, which is at least 6 months.

In addition to GAD, post-crash anxiety can manifest with phobia-like disorders. Depending on how severe the crash is, the likelihood of developing absolute aversion to the vehicle may be greater or lesser. Still, sources argue that up to 40% of people involved in serious accidents develop persistent car-related phobias.

3. Depression

Depression correlates with PTSD and anxiety, in addition to the severity of the injuries and the context of the accident. As you can imagine, a person who has been rendered a quadriplegic after a stroke or who has unintentionally ended the life of another human being will be much more likely to develop depression than someone who has had a minor collision..

In general, the likelihood of developing a depressive disorder is associated with the severity of the injuries and the resulting degree of disability.

Looking for psychological assistance?

Caring for the body after a traffic accident is paramount, but once the major injuries have healed, it is always a good idea to explore the psychological aftermath of such an intense event. After a collision with another vehicle (especially if it has involved quantifiable damage), a visit to the psychologist will be positive in the event of an accident, a visit to a psychologist will be positive in all cases.The visit to the psychologist will be positive in all cases, both to express and relativize the situation and to manage possible derived disorders.

If you are looking for psychotherapy services, please contact us.