Prevalence of Psychiatric Morbidity and Stress Burden among Patients with Limb Fracture

BACKGROUND: To assess the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity and stress burden among the patients with limb fractures and compare them with age and gender matched control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted on 25 patients each of lower and upper limb fractures, presenting 2 weeks or more after the fracture to orthopedics OPD of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. Psychiatric manifestations and stress burden were assessed using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.), perceived stress scale (PSS), and impact of event scale-revised (IES-R) on the patients. It was compared to an equal number of age and gender matched normal control group. RESULTS: Majority of the patients with limb fractures were male (70%). The upper limb fracture was in age group of 18–30 years (52%), and those with lower limb fracture were >50 years of age (48%). Most common psychiatric morbidity seen in patients was major depressive disorder (52%) which was statistically significant in comparison with control group. The impact of trauma on patients resulted in avoidance and hyperarousal symptoms significantly in lower limb fracture patients than upper limb ones (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The long bone injuries in patient cause significant psychiatric morbidity which increases the stress burden in such patients due to immobility and pain.