[Prediction of recovery from dislocation of the cervical vertebrae (whiplash injury of the cervical vertebrae) with initial assessment of psychosocial variables].

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the predictive relationship between psychosocial factors and the course of recovery in patients with whiplash injury. A non-selected sample of 117 subjects satisfying to a clear definition of the syndrome was assessed early after trauma (mean 7.4 +/- 4.2 days) and again at 3, 6, and 12 months. Initial evaluation included subjective complaints (including timing of symptom onset and initial pain intensity) and a large number of psychosocial factors (e.g., self-ratings of well-being, personal and family history, personality traits, and cognitive functioning). Rate of recovery was assessed at follow-ups. One year after initial trauma patients were divided in two groups (recovered and still symptomatic) and compared with regard to initial findings. Finally, a regression analysis was performed with all baseline variables, employing groups (recovered vs symptomatic) as factor variables. Patients who remained symptomatic at 1 year had significantly higher ratings of initial neck pain and headache, displayed a greater variety of subjective complaints, higher scores on the scale "nervousness" from the personality inventory, worse well-being score and poorer performance with regard to focussed attention. According to the regression analysis the following set of initial variables was in significant relationship with poor recovery at 1 year: higher age, complaint of sleep disturbances at initial investigation, and higher intensity of initial neck pain and headache.