The influence of traumatic brain injury on acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder following motor vehicle accidents.
This study compared the acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom profiles in motor vehicle accident survivors who sustained a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) or no TBI. Consecutive adult patients who sustained a MTBI (n = 79) and no TBI (n = 92) were assessed for acute stress disorder within 1 month of their trauma and reassessed for PTSD (MTBI: n = 63; non-TBI; n = 72) 6-months post-trauma. Comparable rates of acute stress disorder and PTSD were reported in MTBI and non-TBI patients. Intrusive memories and fear and helplessness in response to the trauma were reported less frequently by MTBI than non-TBI patients at the acute phase. Six-months post-trauma fewer MTBI patients than non-TBI reported fear and helplessness in response to the trauma. These findings suggest that, whereas impaired consciousness at the time of a trauma may reduce the frequency of traumatic memories in the initial month post-trauma, MTBI does not result in a different profile of longer-term PTSD.
Bryant
R A
RA
University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Harvey
A G
AG
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000145:classification; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices