• G Flatten, H J Erli, V Hardörfer, S Jünger, O Paar, and E R Petzold.
• Klinik für Psychosomatik und Psychotherapeutische Medizin, Universitätsklinikum, RWTH-Aachen. gflatten@post.klinikum.rwth-aachen.de
• Unfallchirurg. 2002 Mar 1; 105 (3): 231-6.

AbstractA clinically significant amount of accident victims display psychological disorders as a reaction to the trauma. Outcome studies on multiple trauma emphasize that life quality following severe accidental injury is influenced by early diagnosis and treatment of psychic co-morbidity. In a nationwide survey concerning the state of the art in in-patient treatment of injury patients conducted in Germany, every surgical ward was contacted and physicians were asked about their standard procedures of detecting and treating psychotraumatic complications. The results of the survey indicate that surgeons pay close attention to signs of psychological comorbidity and have good basic knowledge of psychotraumatic disorders. Nevertheless, there are structural deficiencies caused by the fact that only a few wards have staff specially trained in psychotraumatological care. Only a minority of patients is treated for psychotraumatic symptoms. In view of the high prevalence rates for psychotraumatic disorders in the aftermath of severe accidental injuries, the article discusses the need for psychic diagnosis and support as well as the necessary cooperative structures required in the model of Integrative Posttraumatic Acute Care.

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