Abstract
Background
High incidence of Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVAs) in Saudi Arabia and the established link between MVA and related psychological factors necessitate a survey of the prevalence of MVA and associative factors.
Aims
To investigate the relationship between sleep patterns, locus of control, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among MVA survivors at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Riyadh.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 334 patients with MVA admitted cases, and patients who visited outpatient clinics. In addition to basic demographic information and driving history, PTSD severity, sleep quality, and locus of control were assessed using a validated PTSD Checklist - Civilian Version (PCL-C), Rotter's Locus of Control Scale (LCS), and items taken from the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. Association between the variables was analysed using the Chi-Square test.
Results
Prevalence of moderate to severe PTSD was 39.2 per cent. No association between PTSD severity and involvement in an MVA was found. Women had significantly higher scores PTSD lower internal locus of control scores. The majority of the respondents reported fairly good to very good sleep quality, although 18 per cent admitted to having a driving impairment or hindrance in completing other daily activities due to inadequate sleep in the past month. Regarding trouble staying awake while driving, a significant correlation was found with powerful others (p=0.026) and chance (0.019).
Conclusion
No correlation was found between PTSD severity, poor sleep, locus of control and MVA in this study, although high rates of PTSD necessitate valid identification and treatment of patients at risk.