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Observational Study
. 2021 May-Jun:70:98-102.
doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.03.004. Epub 2021 Mar 8.

Relationship between NIH stroke symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder in patients evaluated for transient ischemic attack/stroke

Emily Pedowitz  1 , Lilly Derby  2 , Gaspar J Cruz  2 , Alison Trainor  2 , Donald Edmondson  2 , Talea Cornelius  2
Affiliations
Observational Study

Relationship between NIH stroke symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder in patients evaluated for transient ischemic attack/stroke

Emily Pedowitz et al. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2021 May-Jun.

Abstract

Objective: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a life-threatening medical event. According to the enduring somatic treat (EST) model, internal somatic cues (e.g., rapid heart rate) may contribute to symptoms of stroke/TIA-induced PTSD. To address this possibility, the present study tested the association of stroke-induced disability with PTSD symptoms in patients treated for stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Method: Participants (n = 300) were drawn from an observational cohort study examining PTSD symptoms in patients admitted to the NewYork Presbyterian Hospital between 2015 and 2017 for a stroke/TIA. Patients self-reported acute stress symptoms in-person approximately 3 days post-stroke/TIA and PTSD symptoms via telephone one month later. Severity of stroke symptoms (i.e., stroke disability) was evaluated using the NIH Stroke Scale prior to hospital discharge.

Results: Stroke disability had a significant, positive association with acute stress symptoms early post-stroke/TIA, B = 0.46, se = 0.15, p = .002, and with PTSD symptoms one month later, B = 0.56, se = 0.19, p = .003.

Conclusions: Stroke disability is positively associated with both acute distress and PTSD symptoms one month later following a stroke/TIA, supporting the hypothesis that internal somatic symptoms contribute to the development stroke/TIA-induced PTSD symptoms.

Keywords: Disability; ED threat perceptions; Enduring somatic threat; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Stroke.

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