Description
In this presentation, Heather A. Vallier addresses the psychosocial consequences of trauma, focusing on identifying populations at risk for poor recovery outcomes. She emphasizes the prevalence of pre-existing mental illness in trauma patients, discussing how mental health conditions can exacerbate pain and prolong recovery while correlating with increased narcotic use. Vallier details her institution's studies on trauma patients, highlighting that almost 45% have mental health issues, predominantly depression. She discusses the importance of recognizing these issues in trauma settings and implementing non-traditional services for recovery enhancement, such as the trauma survivors network and peer mentorship programs. The presentation shares insights on the correlation between pre-injury substance use, mental illnesses, traumatic experiences, and subsequent PTSD rates, presenting data indicating that 26% of trauma patients screened positive for PTSD. Vallier urges better identification and treatment of mental health issues in trauma care to promote improved patient satisfaction and recovery outcomes.
DOI: 10.1302/3114-210336