Coping style and post-traumatic stress disorder following severe traumaticbrain injury

There is increasing evidence that a proportion of severe traumatically brai n injured (TBI) patients do suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). T he aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of PTSD following se vere TBI in a sample of 96 patients who sustained a severe TBI, of whom 27% satisfied diagnostic criteria for PTSD. The Post-traumatic Stress Disorder interview, the Coping Style Questionnaire, and the Functional Assessment M easure was administered to these patients 6 months after hospital discharge . Avoidant coping style, behavioural coping style, and a history of prior u nemployment were the significant predictors of PTSD severity. These finding s indicate that reduction of PTSD and management of severe TBI may be facil itated by teaching patients more adaptive coping strategies.