Predicting Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Following Mild, Moderate, and Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. Issue 4 (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Al-Ozairi, Abdullah; McCullagh, Scott; Feinstein, Anthony; Bushnik, Tamara; Caplan, Bruce; Bogner, Jennifer; Brenner, Lisa
• Is Part Of: Journal of head trauma rehabilitation. Volume 30:Issue 4(2015:Jul./Aug.)
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Brain damage -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Brain damage -- Periodicals; 617.4810443
• DOI: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000043
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-9701

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Objective:</title> <p>To explore the relation between posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) and posttraumatic stress symptoms in traumatic brain injury.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Design:</title> <p>Single-site prospective cohort study.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Participants:</title> <p>A total of 1114 individuals between the ages of 18 and 65 years with a traumatic brain injury seen on average 3 months following injury. Participants were divided into 4 groups according to their duration of PTA: less than 1 hour; 1 to 24 hours; 24 hours to 1 week; and more than 1 week.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Main Measures:</title> <p>Glasgow Coma Scale, PTA, computed tomographic brain scan abnormalities, Impact of Event Scale, the 28-item General Health Questionnaire, and Rivermead Postconcussion Disorder Questionnaire.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Results:</title> <p>The duration of PTA less than 1 hour was associated with more avoidant (<italic>P</italic> < .01) and intrusive (<italic>P</italic> < .001) posttraumatic stress symptoms and more anxiety according to the General Health Questionnaire (<italic>P</italic> < .01) than other groups. Regression analysis identified PTA and 3 concussive symptoms (light sensitivity, noise intolerance, and difficulties concentrating) as independent predictors of intrusive posttraumatic stress symptoms.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusion:</title> <p>Our data, representative of the full range of traumatic brain injury severity, indicate that a brief duration of PTA is a significant risk factor for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. The persistence of certain symptoms of postconcussion disorder adds to the risk by possibly acting as a trigger for reminders of the traumatic event.</p> </sec> </abstract>