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Psychiatric morbidity in bus crews following violent assault: a follow-up study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Nigel Fisher  and
Robin Jacoby
Nigel Fisher*
Affiliation:
Maudsley Hospital, London
Robin Jacoby
Affiliation:
Maudsley Hospital, London
*
1 Address for correspondence: Dr Nigel Fisher, Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AZ.
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Synopsis

In a prospective study 22 bus crews who were victims of physical assault were assessed using standardized psychiatric instruments, followed up for 18 months and compared to a non-assaulted control group drawn from the same bus garage. At initial assessment the assaulted group, compared to the controls showed a significant increase in psychiatric impairment and distress (as measured by the GHQ-30 and IES respectively), with 23% of assault victims developing post-traumatic stress disorder as defined by DSM-III-R. At follow-up, while high levels of both psychiatric impairment and distress persisted there was evidence that they may be separate phenomena.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 22 , Issue 3 , August 1992 , pp. 685 - 693
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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References

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