The late whiplash syndrome: a study of an illness in Australia and Singapore

A condition commonly seen after motor vehicle accidents, the Late Whiplash Syndrome, which is defined as a collection of symptoms and disabilities seen more than six months after a neck injury occurring in a motor vehicle accident, is examined in a series of 300 cases. The author suggests that the d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCulture, medicine and psychiatry Vol. 6; no. 2; p. 191
Main Author Balla, J I
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Netherlands 01.06.1982
Subjects
Accidents, Traffic
Adolescent
Adult
Arm Injuries - etiology
Attitude to Health
Australia
Cross-Cultural Comparison
Female
Headache - etiology
Humans
Legislation, Medical
Male
Middle Aged
Neck Injuries
Sick Role
Singapore
Syndrome
Whiplash Injuries - etiology
Whiplash Injuries - psychology
Australia
Singapore
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Summary:A condition commonly seen after motor vehicle accidents, the Late Whiplash Syndrome, which is defined as a collection of symptoms and disabilities seen more than six months after a neck injury occurring in a motor vehicle accident, is examined in a series of 300 cases. The author suggests that the development of the Late Whiplash Syndrome, some of whose characteristics are viewed as illness and some as illness behavior, depends on social variables. The differential distribution in Western countries and in Singapore is related to sanctions against entry into the sick role associated with this type of injury which are present in countries such as Singapore. Conversely, motor vehicle injury is legitimized in Western Countries such as Australia as an historical overview shows. The author's model of the Late Whiplash Syndrome lends itself to generalizations about the development of social illness in different cultures.
ISSN:0165-005X
DOI:10.1007/BF00051428