ptsd Tbi/ptsd Two Year Study

[allan]

Two-year prospective evaluation of the relationship between acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder following mild traumatic brain injury.

Am J Psychiatry. 2000; 157(4):626-8 (ISSN: 0002-953X)Harvey AG; Bryant RA

School of Psychology, Unviersity of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.vey@psy.ox.ac.uk

OBJECTIVE: To assess the ability of acute stress disorder to predict posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the relationship between acute stress disorder and PTSD over the 2 years following mild traumatic brain injury was determined.

METHOD: Survivors of motor vehicle accidents who sustained mild traumatic brain injuries were assessed for acute stress disorder within 1 month of the trauma (N=79) and for PTSD at 6 months (N=63) and 2 years (N=50) posttrauma.

RESULTS: Acute stress disorder was diagnosed in 14% of the patients. Among the patients who participated in all three assessments, 80% of the subjects who met the criteria for acute stress disorder were diagnosed with PTSD at 2 years. Of the total initial group, 73% of those diagnosed with acute stress disorder had PTSD at 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further support for the utility of the acute stress disorder diagnosis as a predictor of PTSD but indicates that the predictive power of the diagnostic criteria can be increased by placing greater emphasis on reexperiencing, avoidance, and arousal symptoms.

• PreMedline Identifier: 10739425
  

Source: http://www.medscape.com/medline/abstract/10739425