Depression delays injury recovery

Minor injuries can have psychological effects

Up to three in 10 people who are injured do not recover as quickly as expected for psychological reasons, according to new study.

In 5% to 10% of cases a minor physical injury becomes a major problem, affecting insurance claims and the length of time off work, it found.

The work was done for the Association of British Insurers and International Underwriting Association.

Insurers want to intervene earlier to prevent cases becoming too expensive.

The report found that the recovery of between 20% and 30% of people injured in car accidents or at work was hampered by psychological factors.

It could become considerably worse for perfectly genuine psychological reasons Ashton West, MIB

The organisations commissioned the research after evidence showed factors such as depression were affecting people's recovery from accidents.

The report said the problem helps to explain why many injury claims take much longer to settle and at far greater cost than first seemed likely.

Chief executive of the Motor Insurers' Bureau Ashton West, who chaired the research panel, said insurers would usually expect injuries such as back sprain or whiplash to clear up quickly.

"It is important to bear in mind that it could become considerably worse for perfectly genuine psychological reasons.

"Recognising these cases early and delivering appropriate interventions can prevent them from becoming unduly expensive," he said.

The report said that while it would not be possible to consider the psychological aspects of every personal injury case at the outset, insurers should aware of the issue so they could suggest an appropriate rehabilitation programme.

"The approach set out in the report will be good for injured people and good for their insurers," said Eamon Brown, chairman of the IUA-ABI Rehabilitation Working Party.