Exploratory study of the course of posttraumatic stress disorder after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Irene M.C. Huenges Wajer*, Anouk R. Smits, Gabriel J.E. Rinkel, Martine J.E. van Zandvoort, Leoniek Wijngaards-de Meij, Johanna M.A. Visser-Meily

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs often in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) survivors, but how PTSD develops over time post-aSAH is still unclear. We examined the course of PTSD symptoms during the first year after aSAH. Method: In this prospective cohort study, the Impact of Event Scale (IES) was applied in 128 patients 3, 6 and 12 months after aSAH. Multilevel modelling was used to assess changes in levels of PTSD symptoms over time and to explore if demographic characteristics, aSAH characteristics, level of education, cognitive functioning and neuroticism are associated to the course of PTSD symptoms. Results: Multilevel analyses showed at group level no differences in the average level of PTSD symptoms between 3, 6 of 12 months post-aSAH (p = 0.22). At individual level, changes in PTSD symptoms over time were present (X2 (121) = 149.73 p = 0.04). None of the factors could explain the variance in change of PTSD symptoms over time. Conclusions: The course of PTSD appears to differ between individuals after aSAH. We found no factors that explain these differences. There is not one optimal moment in time to assess PTSD. Therefore, it is important to assess PTSD at several time points after aSAH.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)114-118
Number of pages5
JournalGeneral Hospital Psychiatry
Volume53
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2018

Keywords

  • Outcome
  • PTSD
  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage

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