Temporal Relationship between Automobile Accidents and Psychiatric Hospitalization

Abstract

Records of accidents and driving violations for 3 yr. prior to psychiatric hospital admission were obtained for 361 patients who had drivers licenses in their possession when admitted. The frequency of accidents and driving violations for the patient group did not differ significantly from comparable frequencies for a large comparison group composed of male California drivers. When accidents and violations were plotted with reference to the hospitalization date for each patient, a trend was noted for more accidents and driving violations to occur in the months immediately preceding hospitalization than in those months further removed. Some of the reasons why these relationships are not greater were discussed. It is suggested that more research be directed to the multiple-offender regardless of whether or not he has a psychiatric label.