Development of a Biomarker-Based Diagnostic Algorithm for Posttraumatic Syndrome after Physical Injury: Design of the BioPTS Study

Severe physical injury is a leading cause of posttraumatic syndrome (PTS). This is to develop a biomarker-based diagnostic algorithm for posttraumatic syndrome (BioPTS) study. This is a 2-year longitudinal cohort study assessing patients who were hospitalized beginning in 2015 at Chonnam National University Hospital in Gwangju, Korea, after experiencing severe physical injuries. Baseline evaluations were made during the acute phase (within 1 month) of the physical injury and included extensive information on sociodemographic and clinical variables as well as a list of biomarkers. All participants will be followed up for 2 years, and the diagnostic and predictive validities of various biomarkers for PTS will be estimated. The BioPTS study will develop the most accurate models for the diagnosis and prediction of PTS, and will contribute to existing research regarding the complex relationships between severe physical injury and psychological issues.