Risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in patients with multiple injuries and its relationship with anxiety and depression.

Background: Patients with multiple injuries endure not just physical trauma and suffering but are also at risk of psychological conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. The co-occurrence of PTSD in these patients may cause prolonged physical and mental health complications, thereby further increasing their healthcare expenses.

Aim: To determine the association between the high-risk factors of PTSD and anxiety as well as depression among patients with multiple injuries.

Methods: This study selected 110 patients with multiple injuries who were admitted to our hospital from November 2022 to November 2024. The number and percentage of patients developing PTSD were tallied. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to investigate the high-risk factors of PTSD in these patients. Subsequently, the associations between these factors and the anxiety and depression levels of patients were analyzed.

Results: Of the 110 patients, 33 suffered from PTSD, representing an incidence rate of 30.0%. The univariate analysis identified age, personality, Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), economic status, negative life events, and smoking history to be significantly associated with PTSD in patients with multiple injuries. Further, the multivariate analysis revealed age, HAMA, HAMD, monthly income, and negative life events as prominent high-risk factors for PTSD in such patients. Regarding the relationships between these factors and HAMA and HAMD, age exhibited a significant positive correlation (r = 0.398, P < 0.001; r = 0.387, P < 0.001), monthly income showed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.437, P < 0.001; r = -0.319, P < 0.001), and negative life events demonstrated a significant positive correlation (r = 0.505, P < 0.001; r = 0.365, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: These results indicate age, HAMA, HAMD, monthly income, negative life events, etc. as high-risk factors for PTSD in patients with multiple injuries, among which age, monthly income, and negative life events are closely associated with anxiety and depression.