A prospective study of the psychological effects of “person under train” incidents on drivers

Previous studies have shown that person under train (PUT) accidents cause psychological distress to drivers during the first year following the incident. Our aims were to assess the psychological consequences of PUT accidents on drivers prospectively, and to identify risk factors for psychological effects. In this prospective, one-year, follow-up study, a consecutive series of PUT drivers (n = 202) were compared with a group of matched control drivers (n = 186). Psychological state was assessed 15 days, 3 months and 1 year after the event, using the GHQ-28 questionnaire and a standardised diagnostic interview (the v4.4 MINI). Fifteen days after the event, PUT drivers had significantly higher GHQ-28 scores (p < 0.0001) and more acute stress disorder (p = 0.008) than control drivers. No significant differences were found 3 months and 1 year after the accident. Significant explicative variables were the presence of acute and chronic psychosocial stressors (OR = 3.30 and 3.68) and the availability of immediate help (OR = 0.46). We thus confirm previous findings that train drivers who have experienced a PUT accident experience acute psychological disturbances. Our results also highlight the utility of the systematic prevention programme provided.