Older adults who have experiences a serious fall may develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the days following the event.

"Anyone who goes through an accident in which they feel their life may be in danger or they could get physically harmed can develop post-traumatic stress symptoms," Nimali Jayasinghe, lead author of the study, said in a statement.

Researchers found symptoms associated with PTSD in 27 out of 100 people over 65 who had been admitted to a hospital after a fall.

For the study, participants were recruited while they were still in the hospital and assessed using the Post-Traumatic Stress Symptom Scale, which measures 17 symptoms of PTSD. The researchers collected information about their background, marital status, previous mental health issues and current health conditions, and about their fall, including where they fell, how long it took to get help, and the location and severity of injuries. The majority of patients had fallen in their home and had received help within an hour. The most common injury was a fracture.

People who were unemployed or who had less education were more likely to report post-traumatic stress symptoms, as were those with injuries to the back or chest. PTSD symptoms were also associated with the number of other medical problems reported. The most common post-traumatic stress symptoms were feeling emotionally upset when reminded of the fall, a change in future hopes or plans, and problems falling or staying asleep.

The findings were published in the journal General Hospital Psychiatry.