[Pre-collision pain and psychological distress predict poor outcome following acute whiplash trauma--secondary publication].

Patients with acute whiplash trauma were followed to examine if pre-collision pain and psychological distress were associated with reduced work capability and neck pain at 12 month follow-up. Pre-collision unspecified pain was associated with reduced work capability, and neck pain and pre-collision psychological distress was associated with neck pain. In conclusion unspecified pain (as opposed to specified pain) and high accumulation of pre-collision psychological distress (as opposed to a single psychological disorder) before the collision was associated with poor recovery at follow-up.