Substantial Risk for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder After Transient Ischemic Attack

The high prevalence of PTSD underscores the importance of psychosocial support for patients with TIA.

The well-established psychosocial sequelae associated with many neurological disorders have been ascribed to brain injury itself. However, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), which can be a harbinger of stroke, might also lead to adverse psychosocial effects by provoking fear of future disability. To investigate this hypothesis, German researchers used validated surveys to ascertain the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a cohort of patients with TIA.

Eligible patients were identified by retrospective review of medical records at a single stroke center between 2010 and 2011. All patients had undergone imaging to rule out brain infarction. To improve the reliability of the TIA diagnosis, patients were included only if they …

Reviewing Author

Hooman Kamel, MD

Disclosures

Speaker’s bureauGenentech

Grant / Research supportNational Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Michael Goldberg Stroke Research Fund

Editorial boardsPLOS One; Scientific Reports

Leadership positions in professional societiesNeurocritical Care Society (Research Committee Member)