Social and psych complication post WAD are _______________.

• A. Red flag
• B. Blue flag
• C. Green flag
• D. Yellow flag

Answer: (D)

Focus on psychosocial factors that can derail recovery after whiplash. Yellow flags represent psychological and social factors that influence prognosis and can complicate healing if not addressed. These include beliefs about pain and movement, fear of re-injury, catastrophizing, mood disturbances, coping strategies, and expectations about return to activities or work. When these factors are present, they can lead to avoidance, increased perceived disability, and longer pain duration, making rehabilitation more challenging. Interventions targeting these flags—such as education, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and graded activity—are aimed at reducing disability and promoting a timely return to function. Red flags signal medical/serious pathology, blue flags relate to workplace factors, and green flags are positive supports; the social and psychological barriers most classically labeled as yellow flags best capture the complication in question.