Mirza, Bhadrinath, Goodyer, and Gilmour questioned if post-traumatic stress disorder from road traffic accidents is significant in children. They studied the importance of the association between comorbid disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder as well as determining the severity of the post-traumatic stress disorder because of physical injuries, pre-accident mental health problems, age, gender, and family involvement. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that develops after a traumatic event occurs. PTSD symptoms include flashbacks, depression, anxiety, and more. Comorbid is defined as having two or more diseases at once. Although it was not included in this study, the Anxiety and Depression Association …show more content…
interviewed 156 children, ranging from 8 to 16 years old, who had been in road traffic accidents. To participate, the child could not have any special needs, must speak English, and the road traffic accident had to have been declared an accident. Mirza et al. used the Fredrick Reaction Index to detect PTSD and other psychological disorders four weeks after the accident. They interviewed those who seemed to be suffering from PTSD extensively to be sure they were suffering from PTSD. Mirza et al. classified road traffic accidents into five different categories: passenger in a motor vehicle, bike riders, pedestrians, public transportation, and other. Next, the Abbreviation Injury Scale was used to determine the extent of the young person’s physical injuries. Parents were also interviewed four weeks after the accident to document the child’s usual mental health state as well as the mental health state of the parent if they were in the accident. Six months later, Mirza et al. interviewed the parents and children again using the Fredrick Reaction Index to measure the individuals PTSD. Using the Fredrick Reaction Index, scores ranging between 7 and 9 suffered from mild PTSD, 9 through 12 moderately suffered, and a score greater than 12 was considered severe. Mirza et al. used qualitative research to determine if PTSD from road traffic accidents is significant in …show more content…
Six months later, 94 scored below seven, 4 suffered mildly, 2 moderately suffered, and 13 had severe PTSD. One person scored below seven four weeks after the accident and six months later scored above seven and was suffering from PTSD. Mirza et al. also concluded that girls of all ages were more likely to suffer from PTSD than boys. Motor vehicle accident victims suffered more from PTSD than any other type of accident studied. Age and severity of injuries had little to no significance on level of PTSD the children had. They tested those that did not suffer from PTSD for other disorders. Results showed they suffered from major depressive disorder, phobias, separation anxiety, panic disorder, general anxiety, ADHD, and conduct