title: Coping style and post-traumatic stress disorder following severe traumatic brain injury.
abstract: There is increasing evidence that a proportion of severe traumatically brain injured (TBI) patients do suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of PTSD following severe 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 Measure was administered to these patients 6 months after hospital discharge. Avoidant coping style, behavioural coping style, and a history of prior unemployment were the significant predictors of PTSD severity. These findings indicate that reduction of PTSD and management of severe TBI may be facilitated by teaching patients more adaptive coping strategies.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. r.bryant@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Marosszeky
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crooks
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baguley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gurka
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D012803:Sick Role; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*