Background: The management of Whiplash Associated Disorders is one of the mostcomplicated challenges with high expenses for the health care system and society. There arestill no general guidelines or scientific documentation to unequivocally support any singletreatment for acute care following whiplash injury.The main purpose of this study is to try a new behavioural medicine intervention strategyat acute phase aimed to reduce the number of patients who have persistent problems after thewhiplash injury. The goal is also to identify which of three different interventions that is mostcost-effective for patients with Whiplash Associated Disorders. In this study we arecontrolling for two factors. First, the effect of behavioural medicine approach is comparedwith standard care. Second, the manner in which the behavioural medicine treatment isadministered, Internet or face-to-face, is evaluated in it’s effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.Methods / Design: The study is a randomized, prospective, experimental three-groupstudy with analyses of cost-effectiveness up to two-years follow-up. Internet - basedprogramme and face-to-face group treatment programme are compared to standard-treatmentonly. Patient follow-ups take place three, six, twelve and 24 months, that is, short-term as wellas long-term effects are evaluated. Patients will be enrolled via the emergency ward duringthe first week after the accident.Discussion: This new self-help management will concentrate to those psychosocialfactors that are shown to be predictive in long-term problems in Whiplash AssociatedDisorders, i.e. the importance of self-efficacy, fear of movement, and the significance ofcatastrophizing as a coping strategy for restoring and sustaining activities of daily life. Withinthe framework of this project, we will develop, broaden and evaluate current physical therapytreatment methods for acute Whiplash Associated Disorders. The project will contribute to thecreation of a cost-effective behavioural medicine approach to management of acute WhiplashAssociated Disorders. The results of this study will answer an important question; on whatextent and how should these patients be treated at acute stage and how much does the bestmanagement cost.