After a major motor vehicle accident people experience a variety of psychological symptoms. These symptoms, if not treated, are known to cause debilitating psychological stress in everyday life. Kenardy (2015) finds that road traffic crash survivors with minor injuries are also affected. 

Personal injury psychotherapy can help individuals cope with physical and psychological traumas and their lingering effects on their quality of life. The results of the traumas can take many forms. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) describes the emotional consequences of experiencing a traumatic event regardless of whether or not an injury occurred.

Individuals with PTSD may have phobic traveling anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, and pervasive negative thoughts about the incident that affect their day-to-day functioning. Also, patients struggle with the immediate change in life as they navigate doctor’s appointments and possible time away from work which can majorly impact their jobs (Mayou, 1993) and ability to earn income, support themselves and their families, and maintain their monthly bills. Furthermore, psychological distress can affect an individual’s ability to function with normal regimens at home and regular job performance in the workplace.  This rapid change in life can result in major depressive disorder (MDD) which can include symptoms of depressed mood, significant weight loss, or weight gain (this symptom along with others can slow down the process of healing from their physical injury), insomnia, feelings of worthlessness, and recurrent thoughts of suicidal ideation.

But these claims can go unheard until they are backed by a professional opinion.

The physical impacts of conditions are usually easy to assess through medical tests and evaluations. The psychological costs, on the other hand, are harder to quantify. Nutrition & Fitness Harmony, LLC psychotherapist evaluates patients using a standard means of objectively assessing these psychological impacts that are aligned with the DSM-5. After the assessment, the patient is scheduled to work with empathetic and trained clinicians to help them restore their sense of normalcy and well-being to help them better manage the resulting trauma.

Our psychotherapist works closely with the registered dietician as providers to help patients begin their recovery.  Contact us today to learn more about our personal injury services.

References

Kenardy, J., Heron-Delaney, M., Warren, J., & Brown, E. (2015). The effect of mental health on long-term health-related quality of life following a road traffic crash: results from the UQ SuPPORT study. Injury, 46(5), 883-890.

Mayou, R., Bryant, B., & Duthie, R. (1993). Psychiatric consequences of road traffic accidents. British  Medical Journal, 307(6905), 647-651.

Patient Process

• The patient completes a pre-assessment to measure current symptoms.
• The patient schedules an appointment for a complete diagnostic evaluation which includes sharing information to get to know the patient, better understand the patient’s situation, and arrive at a diagnosis for the problem.
• The patient schedules an appointment for an interpretive summary to discuss findings from the evaluation. Diagnoses can help guide the process as a patient in assisting to formulate a realistic treatment plan.
• The patient schedules the first appointment for a treatment session.
• After the treatment ends, the patient is discharged with a summary plan with recommendations.

PTSD Symptoms

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is triggered by a petrifying event, either experiencing it or witnessing it.

In several large, nationally representative surveys, the projected lifetime risk of PTSD in the United States has ranged from 6.8% to 7.8% (Kessler et al., 2005) making this diagnosis one of the most prevalent of all mental disorders, surpassed only by substance use disorders and depression.

The American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) places PTSD in the trauma-related disorders section and describes symptoms of PTSD diagnosis.

Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence.

Intrusion symptoms

Avoidance symptoms

Negative changes in cognition and mood

Changes in arousal and reactivity symptoms

Depression Symptoms

The DSM-5 states individuals with PTSD are 80% more likely than those without PTSD to have symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria for at least one other mental disorder (e.g., depressive, bipolar, anxiety, or substance use disorders).

Additional research also confirms “comorbidity between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder is common, with approximately half of people with PTSD also having a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) across diverse epidemiological samples” Flory, JD and Yehuda, R. (2015).

Some symptoms a patient experiences when impacted by major depressive disorder are listed below.

Depressed mood

Markedly diminished interest or pleasure

Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain

Insomnia or hypersomnia

Diminished ability to think or concentrate

Suicidal ideation

Individual & Group Psychotherapy Treatment

There are several evidence-based therapies used to treat patients with PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression.  Individual treatment plans are created in collaboration with the patient during the clinical assessment depending on what symptoms they are experiencing and what evidenced-based modalities will render the best outcomes to help stabilize those symptoms. There is research on specifically treating patients who are motor vehicle accident survivors. “Clinical trials and meta-analysis have found trauma-focused therapies including trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT; eg, cognitive processing therapy), and exposure-based therapy (eg, prolonged and written exposure) to be effective in the treatment of PTSD in adults” (Stein, Feb. 2024). The treatment being used in sessions is modeled after these approaches.  Group psychotherapy is well-researched and just as effective as individual psychotherapy. Furthermore, it can be a relief to hear others discuss what they’re going through and realize they’re not alone. Group psychotherapy is based on the same individual psychotherapy evidenced-based therapies used to treat patients with PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression. 

Contact Us

Nutrition & Fitness Harmony, LLC is efficient and robust when working directly with partners. We are committed to returning calls and emails within 24 hours. We believe in building a positive rapport with all who work with us and we are always looking for ways to increase excellence. Nutrition & Fitness Harmony, LLC works with the highest standards of ethics within the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. These associations provide an overview of the main functions and a brief guide for dealing with ethical issues or dilemmas in our work practice. Nutrition & Fitness Harmony, LLC also uses HIPAA-compliant technology in handling sensitive information as is required by law.   We welcome the opportunity to work with you.

References

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5

Flory, JD Yehuda R. Comorbidity between post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder: alternative explanations and treatment considerations. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015 Jun;17(2):141-50. doi: 10.31887/DCNS.2015.17.2/jflory. PMID: 26246789; PMCID: PMC4518698.

Kessler, R. C., Sonnega, A., Bromet, E., Hughes, M., & Nelson, C. B. (1995). Posttraumatic stress disorder in the national comorbidity survey. Archives of General Psychiatry,52, 1048−1060

Schwartze D, Barkowski S, Strauss B, Knaevelsrud C, Rosendahl J. Efficacy of group psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Psychother Res. 2019 May;29(4):415-431. doi: 10.1080/10503307.2017.1405168. Epub 2017 Nov 27. PMID: 29179647.

Stein, Murray B (February 2024). https://www.uptodate.com/contents/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-in-adults-treatment-overview