[Medical evaluation of psychological disorders following whiplash injury].

Psychological disorders are not rare following whiplash injury and, when present, determine the further course of symptoms. In addition to an acute stress reaction, adjustment disorders occasionally occur, while posttraumatic stress disorder is rarer; somatoform disorders, however, are frequent, especially persistent somatoform pain disorder and other psychological disorders. Since they defy objective substantiation, chronic complaints following whiplash injury give rise to numerous problems and differences of opinion. Therefore, medical appraisers require expertise not only in somatic, but also in psychological disorders.