The prevalence and neuropsychiatric correlates of posttraumatic stress symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury

The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology was i nvestigated in 57 patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) approxima tely one month after injury (mean = 44; SD = 26 days). Symptoms of varying severity were present in 84% of the sample. Patients with a premorbid psych iatric diagnosis, substance abuse, physical complaints, and those involved in litigation were more likely to endorse PTSD symptoms. A comparison of pa tients with and without PTSD symptoms demonstrated that the latter were sig nificantly more anxious and depressed both on subjective and objective meas ures of pychopathology. The study demonstrates that PTSD symptoms are frequ ently present early in the recovery phase of mild TBI and are associated wi th significant psychiatric comorbidity. (C) 2000 Academic Press.