The trauma disease.

Although trauma was identified as a "neglected disease" over three decades ago, it continues to remain the leading cause of death through the first four decades of life. Because trauma is preventable and frequently predictable, it is subject to the same epidemiology as disease. In the case of disease, the intervention of choice is prevention. By defining and addressing trauma as a disease, and approaching it within the context of behavioral nursing theory, the practitioner can develop interventions with the potential to reduce the impact and incidence of trauma across a wide spectrum of groups at identifiable risk.