Effectiveness of providing self-help information following acute traumatic injury: randomised controlled trial.

Background: Patients attending an accident and emergency department may exhibit psychological disturbances post-injury. Early interventions have been suggested to reduce the risk of post-injury disorder, including psychoeducation.

Aims: We assessed the efficacy of providing such self-help information.

Method: Patients who had experienced trauma were randomised to two groups: those given (n=75) and not given (n=67) a self-help booklet. Psychological assessments were completed within 2, 10-12 and 24-26 weeks.

Results: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression decreased (P < 0.05) with time but there were no group differences in PTSD or anxiety. The controls were less depressed (P < 50.05) at follow-up. There was a reduction in PTSD caseness within the control (50%) compared with the intervention (20%) group which was almost significant (P < 0.06).

Conclusions: This trial failed to support the efficacy of providing self-help information as a preventive strategy to ameliorate PTSD.