Premium
Does post‐traumatic stress disorder occur after stroke: a preliminary study
Author(s) -
Sembi Sundeep,
Tarrier Nicholas,
O'Neill Paul,
Burns Alistair,
Faragher Brian
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199805)13:5<315::aid-gps766>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - stroke (engine) , anxiety , neuroticism , depression (economics) , psychology , stressor , psychiatry , anxiety disorder , clinical psychology , mental health , personality , mechanical engineering , social psychology , engineering , economics , macroeconomics
Background and purpose . Psychological reactions after stroke have been recognized for some time. The present study examined whether psychological symptoms consistent with post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could occur after stroke as a consequence of the sudden and unpredictable occurrence of a life‐threatening internal stressor. Methods . Sixty‐one patients who had experienced a first‐ever stroke or transient ischaemic attack were assessed using standard self‐report clinical measures for anxiety, depression and PTSD. Those patients who fulfilled criteria on at least one PTSD self‐report measure were subsequently assessed using a structured clinical interview for PTSD. Results . Six (9·8%) patients fulfilled criteria for PTSD. No significant differences were found between the post‐stroke PTSD group and the non‐PTSD group in terms of premorbid health and lifestyle, or experiences of adverse life events. Significant differences were noted with respect to self‐reported post‐stroke mental health and premorbid neuroticism. The post‐stroke PTSD group also scored consistently higher on measures of anxiety, depression and psychiatric caseness. Conclusions . The results of this study demonstrate a number of close similarities between post‐stroke PTSD and classical PTSD. We therefore conclude that PTSD or a PTSD‐like syndrome can occur after stroke. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.