title: Prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We estimated the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and identified predictors of self-rated PTSD symptoms in patients post-myocardial infarction (MI).
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 400 patients (mean age 60 +/- 12 years, 79% were men) with a previous acute index MI who were referred to a tertiary cardiology clinic. PTSD was assessed by the Clinician-administered PTSD Scale, and self-rated severity of PTSD symptom levels were assessed by the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 190 patients who completed the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale, 34 met the cutoff for clinically significant PTSD symptomatology and 32 agreed to be interviewed. Among these patients, the Clinician-administered PTSD Scale interview yielded a prevalence of full and subsyndromal PTSD of 9.5% (95% confidence interval 7.4-11.6). Retrospectively rated feelings of helplessness (beta = .47, P < .001) and pain intensity during MI (beta = .15, P = .019) independently predicted PTSD symptom level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approximately 10% of patients post-MI had full or subsyndromal PTSD. Subjective perception of MI predicted self-rated PTSD symptom level.
authors: Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospital Berne, Switzerland.
authors: Lina
authors: L
authors: Wiedemar
authors: Jean-Paul
authors: JP
authors: Schmid
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Müller
authors: Lutz
authors: L
authors: Wittmann
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Schnyder
authors: Hugo
authors: H
authors: Saner
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: von Känel
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006380:Helplessness, Learned; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires