follow-up 68%). Mental health was screened for symptoms of anxiety and depression at baseline by self-report on 12 items (the Anxiety Depression Index-12). Self reported whiplash trauma was registered as a dichotomy at follow-up, and followed up with age at whiplash trauma in positive cases. Results: Whiplash trauma was reported by 956 individuals at follow-up, whereof 277 were reported to have occurred between baseline and follow-up. Symptoms of anxiety and depression increased the likelihood of self-report of whiplash trauma at follow-up (OR1⁄41.24 per SD increase in mental symptom load, 95% confidence interval 1.10 e 1.40, p<.001), adjusted for age and gender. Whiplash was associated with increased disability pension award. Discussion: Our finding suggests that the increased level of psychopathology found in individuals with a history of whiplash trauma might partly be present already prior to the whiplash injury. This finding is contrary to the common conception of causality in the whiplash-mental health association.