Psychopathologic risk factors for intentional and nonintentional injury

Trauma has a high rate of recurrence, suggesting that some people are more injury-prone than others. This study was performed to evaluate some of the psychological and social factors that might influence the likelihood of traumatic injury.

A case-control study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between selected psychosocial factors and traumatic injury. At a Level I trauma center, victims of intentional trauma (excluding attempted suicide), victims of nonintentional trauma, and patients undergoing elective surgery were interviewed by a person blinded to the purposes of the study. They were given an intelligence test and underwent a structured interview, yielding psychiatric diagnostic categories established in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised (DSM-III-R).

Trauma patients were younger than elective surgery patients (p < 0.01) and were more likely to be men (p < 0.01). Victims of intentional injury had a higher probability of alcohol use (p < 0.01) and admitted illicit drug use (p < 0.001) than either nonintentional injury victims or elective surgery patients. Victims of intentional injury were more likely to be unemployed than those in the other two groups (p < 0.02), whereas elective surgery patients were more likely to be retired (p < 0.05) or to be disabled (p < 0.0001). The average intelligence score was slightly above the median in the nonintentional trauma group and in the control group (55th percentile and 54th percentile, respectively), compared with a mean intelligence score equivalent to the 35th percentile in the victims of intentional trauma (p < 0.001). Thirty percent of elective surgery patients met diagnostic criteria for at least one category of psychopathology, compared with 50% of nonintentional trauma patients, and 63% of intentional trauma patients (p < 0.01, trauma vs. elective surgery). Logistic regression analysis identified six variables that were independently associated with an increased tendency to be a victim of trauma: younger age, lower intelligence, antisocial personality, mental retardation, depression, and low income.

Victims of trauma, both nonintentional, and especially intentional, have a high incidence of psychopathology. Victims of intentional trauma have significantly lower intelligence scores than either nonintentional injury or elective surgery patients. The high incidence of unemployment, alcohol abuse, and illicit drug use in victims of intentional injury might provide several opportunities for trauma prevention programs. Underlying psychological disorders will have to be addressed to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of trauma.