PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT FOLLOWING WORK-RELATED HAND INJURY - 18-MONTH FOLLOW-UP

Severe, work-related hand injuries are often accompanied by a significant number of psychological symptoms that are frequently associated with posttraumatic stress disorders. These symptoms occur in the following four domains of psychological functioning: cognitive, affective, physiological, and behavioral. This study examined the incidence of a variety of symptoms occurring with work-injured patients. Interviews were conducted at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months after injury. Symptom frequencies were recorded. The results indicate that many of these symptoms were persistent 18 months later and continued to be significantly debilitating. The results support the need for psychological intervention after severe, work-related hand injuries.