Yannik Kalbas1, Sascha Halvachizadeh2, Yohei Kumabe2, Anna Theresa Luidl3, Jennifer Lynne Steel4, Boris A Zelle5, Paolo Cinelli2, Hans-Christoph Pape2, Roman Pfeifer2. 1. Department of Trauma Surgery and Harald-Tscherne Laboratory, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Ramistr. 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland. yannik.kalbas@usz.ch. 2. Department of Trauma Surgery and Harald-Tscherne Laboratory, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Ramistr. 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland. 3. Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. 4. Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. 5. Department of Orthopaedics, UT Health San Antonio, Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: There is limited research on the long-term psychiatric outcomes of polytraumatized patients. Existing studies focus mainly on the negative sequelae. Post-traumatic growth (PTG) describes positive personal development after severe physical or mental distress. In this study, we investigated post-traumatic growth in polytraumatized patients at least 20 years after trauma. METHODS: Patients treated for polytrauma at a German level 1 trauma center between 1971 and 1990, were contacted 20+ years later. A questionnaire with 37 questions from the stress-related growth scale (SRGS) and the post-traumatic growth inventory (PGI) was administered. PTG was quantified in five specific areas. PTG and patient demographics were then analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Eligible questionnaires were returned by 337 patients. 96.5% of patients reported improvements regarding at least one of the 37 questions. Approximately, a third of patients noticed distinct improvements regarding their relationship to others (29.2%), appreciation of life (36.2%) and attitudes towards new possibilities (32.5%). Patient demographics were significant predictors for the development of PTG: Older (p < 0.001), female (p = 0.042) and married patients (p = 0.047) showed a greater expression of PTG. We also saw significantly more PTG in patients with higher injury severity (p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: 20 years after polytrauma, patients report improvements in their relationship with others, appreciation of life and attitude towards new possibilities. Women and married patients show higher expression of PTG. Furthermore, there is higher expression of PTG with higher age and injury severity. Post-traumatic growth should be identified and fostered in clinical practice. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III-prospective long-term follow-up study.
PURPOSE: There is limited research on the long-term psychiatric outcomes of polytraumatized patients. Existing studies focus mainly on the negative sequelae. Post-traumatic growth (PTG) describes positive personal development after severe physical or mental distress. In this study, we investigated post-traumatic growth in polytraumatized patients at least 20 years after trauma. METHODS: Patients treated for polytrauma at a German level 1 trauma center between 1971 and 1990, were contacted 20+ years later. A questionnaire with 37 questions from the stress-related growth scale (SRGS) and the post-traumatic growth inventory (PGI) was administered. PTG was quantified in five specific areas. PTG and patient demographics were then analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Eligible questionnaires were returned by 337 patients. 96.5% of patients reported improvements regarding at least one of the 37 questions. Approximately, a third of patients noticed distinct improvements regarding their relationship to others (29.2%), appreciation of life (36.2%) and attitudes towards new possibilities (32.5%). Patient demographics were significant predictors for the development of PTG: Older (p < 0.001), female (p = 0.042) and married patients (p = 0.047) showed a greater expression of PTG. We also saw significantly more PTG in patients with higher injury severity (p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: 20 years after polytrauma, patients report improvements in their relationship with others, appreciation of life and attitude towards new possibilities. Women and married patients show higher expression of PTG. Furthermore, there is higher expression of PTG with higher age and injury severity. Post-traumatic growth should be identified and fostered in clinical practice. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III-prospective long-term follow-up study.
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