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Psychological problems following minor head injury: A prospective study
Author(s) -
Wright John C.,
Telford Rosemary
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
british journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.479
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8260
pISSN - 0144-6657
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1996.tb01194.x
Subject(s) - psychology , distress , clinical psychology , head injury , psychiatry , minor (academic) , psychological distress , mental health , humanities , philosophy
Fifty people admitted to hospital with a predominantly minor head injury were interviewed six months and three years later. As a group, they showed evidence of post‐traumatic stress disorder consistent with the DSM‐III‐R (American Psychiatric Association, 1987) definition, and psychological distress as measured by the Impact of Event scale and the General Health Questionnaire. In addition, changes in self‐concept were measured and a prominent theme emerged of the discontinuity in the participants' sense of self following the head injury. These changes showed a significant relationship with psychological symptoms. Occupational and social functioning of the participants is also reported. It is suggested that disturbance and change following minor head injury is common and can be chronic.