Title: Psychological consequences of traumatic injury
Abstract: Whiplash injuries commonly occur in road traffic accidents, although early descriptions of railway spine following rail accidents would appear to be similar (Trimble, 1981). Initial acute symptoms include neck pain, restricted mobility in the cervical spine, headache, pain in the thoracic spine, radiating pain, paraesthesiae and/or weakness in the arms or legs (Spitzer et al , 1995). These somatic symptoms often are accompanied by psychological symptoms such as initial ‘shock’, a ‘dazed’ feeling, anxiety, anger, depression, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, lassitude, loss of libido, altered appetite and weight and, in some cases, feelings of helplessness, horror, despair and reliving experiences (Mayou & Radanov, 1996).