The preventive effect of emergency
psychological intervention on post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with acute
spinal cord injury: a retrospective cohort
study

The preventive effect of emergency
psychological intervention on post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with acute
spinal cord injury: a retrospective cohort
study

Psychological intervention, Inpatients, Rehabilitation, Spinal cord injury, Stress disorders, post-traumatic

Introduction Acute spinal cord injury (ASCI) often leads to severe disability and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
yet evidence on early psychological prevention during the emergency stage is limited.
Aim This study aimed to evaluate whether emergency psychological intervention can effectively prevent PTSD in
ASCI patients and improve rehabilitation outcomes, addressing a key gap in current trauma management research.
Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 191 ASCI patients admitted to the emergency
department of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from June 2023 to December 2024. Patients
were divided by injury severity (ISS≥16 or ISS<16) and exposure to emergency psychological intervention. Primary
outcome was PTSD incidence; secondary outcomes included exercise compliance, muscle strength recovery,
emergency stay time, readmission rate, and medical costs.
Results The incidence of PTSD was significantly lower in the severe intervention group than in controls (26.7% vs.
51.8%, P=0.024). Exercise compliance and muscle strength recovery were higher in intervention groups, and average
medical expenses per patient decreased by ¥3,953 in the severe group.
Conclusion Early emergency psychological intervention can effectively prevent PTSD and enhance rehabilitation
outcomes in ASCI patients, while reducing healthcare costs and improving efficiency in emergency care. These
findings support integrating a “physiological–psychological” management model into routine trauma practice.
Clinical trial number Not applicable.
Keywords Psychological intervention, Inpatients, Rehabilitation, Spinal cord injury, Stress disorders, post-traumatic

Ting Li1,2, Hua Xu1,2, Chenchen Jiang1,2 and Xiao Liu1,2*

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-025-01452-0

2026

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