DOES POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER OCCUR AFTER STROKE - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

Background and purpose. Psychological reactions after stroke have been recognized for some time. The present study examined whether psycholo gical symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) c ould occur after stroke as a consequence of the sudden and unpredictab le occurrence of a life-threatening internal stressor. Methods. Sixty- one patients who had experienced a first-ever stroke or transient isch aemic attack were assessed using standard self-report clinical measure s for anxiety, depression and PTSD. Those patients who fulfilled crite ria on at least one PTSD self-report measure were subsequently assesse d using a structured clinical interview for PTSD. Results. Six (9.8%) patients fulfilled criteria for PTSD. No significant differences were found between the poststroke PTSD group and the non-PTSD group in term s of premorbid health and lifestyle, or experiences of adverse life ev ents. 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, dep ression and psychiatric caseness. Conclusions. The results of this stu dy demonstrate a number of close similarities between post-stroke PTSD and classical PTSD. We therefore conclude that PTSD or a PTSD-like sy ndrome can occur after stroke. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.