Psychiatric morbidity following motor vehicle crashes: a pilot study from India.

Background: Motor vehicle crashes can result in significant posttraumatic psychiatric morbidity. While the psychological impact of major disasters has been extensively studied in developing nations, psychological distress resulting from personal disasters such as road traffic crashes is sadly lacking.

Method: Thirty inpatients who had been involved in a motor vehicle crash, either as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian, were assessed for psychiatric morbidity using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Impact of Events Scale.