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Relationship between compensation claims for psychiatric injury and severity of physical injuries from motor vehicle accidents
Author(s) -
Large Matthew M
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2001.tb143059.x
Subject(s) - psychiatry , medicine , injury prevention , poison control , depression (economics) , audit , suicide prevention , occupational safety and health , psychiatric assessment , medical emergency , pathology , management , economics , macroeconomics
Objective To examine the relationship between compensation claims for psychiatric injury after motor vehicle accidents and physical injuries sustained. Design Audit of Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance claims. Subjects and setting 559 consecutive CTP claims referred by NRMA Insurance Limited to its sole provider of CTP legal services during a three‐month period in 1994 after the claimant had engaged legal representation. Main outcome measures Claim for psychiatric injury (any psychiatric disorder excluding traumatic brain injury) supported by a medicolegal report from a psychiatrist, other medical practitioner or psychologist; pre‐existing psychiatric disorders; Injury Severity Score; initial treatment setting; hospital stay; percentage of accidents involving loss of consciousness or a death. Results 522 claims were eligible for the study; 19.5% (102/522) included a claim for psychiatric injury. A pre‐existing depression or anxiety disorder was documented in 11 claims (2.1% of all claims and 3.9% of those claiming psychiatric injury). Only very severe injuries, particularly those involving loss of consciousness, were associated with an increased rate of claims for psychiatric injury. Conclusions No association was found between claims for psychiatric injury and severity of physical injuries, except among those most severely injured.