Posttraumatic stress disorder in patients after transient ischemic attack: A one-year follow-up

Exploration of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in treating posttraumatic stress-disorder in patients with acquired brain injury: a retrospective case series

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent in people with acquired brain injury (ABI). Despite the established efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for PTSD in general, evaluation studies on EMDR in ABI patients with PTSD are limited.Objective: The aim of this study is to explore clinical features, treatment characteristics, feasibility and first indications of efficacy of EMDR in adult ABI patients with PTSD.Method: This retrospective consecutive case series included ABI patients, who received at least one session of EMDR for PTSD between January 2013 and September 2020. PTSD symptoms were measured using the Impact of Event Scale (IES) pre- and post-treatment. Affective distress was measured using the Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) pre- and post-treatment of the first target.Results: Sixteen ABI patients (median age 46 years, 50% males), with predominantly moderate or severe TBI (50%) or stroke (25%) were included. Treatment duration was a median of seven sessions. Post-treatment IES scores were significantly lower than pre-treatment scores (p < .001). In 81% of the cases there was an individual statistically and clinically relevant change in IES score. Mean SUD scores of the first target were significantly lower at the end of treatment compared to scores at the start of treatment (p < .001). In 88% of the patients full desensitization to a SUD of 0-1 of the first target was accomplished. Only few adjustments to the standard EMDR protocol were necessary.Conclusions: Findings suggest that EMDR is a feasible, well tolerated and potentially effective treatment for PTSD in ABI patients. For clinical practice in working with ABI patients, it is advised to consider EMDR as a treatment option.

Coping Strategies and Posttraumatic Growth Following Transient Ischemic Attack: A Qualitative Study

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is defined as a temporary neurological dysfunction due to focal brain ischemia. We aimed to identify common coping strategies and the possible occurrence of posttraumatic growth in TIA patients. Semistructured interviews were conducted with TIA patients three months after TIA. We asked the participants about possible changes in the aftermath of their TIA and their way of coping with said changes. All interviews were tape-recorded and subsequently transcribed verbatim. Thematic content analysis was performed to identify main categories and themes. Seventeen patients with a median age of 66 years completed the semistructured interviews. Qualitative content analysis revealed 332 single codes, from which the three main categories "impairments as a consequence of TIA", "coping strategies" and "posttraumatic growth" were generated. The main categories were further subdivided into seven categories and thirty-six themes. TIA patients may suffer from various physical impairments, which also involve medication side effects. Activating resources on the one hand, and avoiding negative thoughts and feelings on the other hand, were identified to be the relevant coping strategies in TIA patients. Posttraumatic growth seems to be a common phenomenon after TIA, which may have important implications for treatment and rehabilitation.

Neuropsychiatric Complications after Stroke

Neuropsychiatric disturbances represent a common and uniquely challenging consequence of stroke. These disorders arise at the intersection of lesion-related brain dysfunction and psychological distress related to the event and its aftermath, making it difficult to identify what symptom is a direct physiological consequence of the stroke. Depression, anxiety, fatigue, apathy, emotionalism, and anger are the most common of these syndromes, and posttraumatic stress disorder related to the stroke event has become increasingly recognized as a relevant entity. Mania, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and psychosis are less commonly encountered but potentially highly debilitating conditions that may be underrecognized. Early identification and treatment may mitigate functional impairment and improve quality of life. Evidence-based guidelines from the general population are often relied upon to guide treatment. Further research is needed to understand and tailor treatment of these disorders in the poststroke population.

Predictors of posttraumatic stress following transient ischemic attack: An observational cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) has been reported to be frequently followed by symptoms of post-TIA posttraumatic stress disorder (post-TIA PTSD). Risk factors for post-TIA PTSD remain largely unknown. We aimed to identify predictors of post-TIA PTSD development to enable post-TIA PTSD risk assessment and inform future development of treatment and prevention interventions.

METHOD

TIA patients were examined twice for this observational cohort study. Symptoms of post-TIA PTSD, depression and anxiety were assessed shortly after TIA during in-hospital stay (T1) and three months after TIA (T2). The impact of known general PTSD risk factors (psychiatric history, peritraumatic dissociation, social support), psychological resilience factors (sense of coherence, mindfulness, attachment style) and TIA characteristics (affected circulatory territory, symptom type and duration) at T1 on post-TIA PTSD symptom severity at T2 was tested using hierarchical multiple linear regression.

RESULTS

Sixty-one patients (83.6%) completed the study at T2. Fifteen patients (24.6%) were classified as post-TIA PTSD⊕ at T2. In multiple linear regression analysis, age, sex, psychiatric history, peritraumatic dissociation and social support together explained 39.9% of variance of post-TIA posttraumatic stress symptom severity. Sense of coherence and mindfulness explained further 17.8% of variance. Clinical TIA characteristics were not associated with post-TIA PTSD.

CONCLUSIONS

Post-TIA PTSD is a common phenomenon. General PTSD risk factors can be applied for post-TIA PTSD risk assessment. Sense of coherence and mindfulness are promising target variables for post-TIA PTSD treatment and prevention interventions.

Neuropsychiatric issues after stroke: Clinical significance and therapeutic implications

A spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders is a common complication from stroke. Neuropsychiatric disorders after stroke have negative effects on functional recovery, increasing the rate of mortality and disability of stroke survivors. Given the vital significance of maintaining physical and mental health in stroke patients, neuropsychiatric issues after stroke have raised concerns by clinicians and researchers. This mini-review focuses on the most common non-cognitive functional neuropsychiatric disorders seen after stroke, including depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis, and psychotic disorders. For each condition, the clinical performance, epidemiology, identification of the therapeutic implication, and strategies are reviewed and discussed; the main opinions and perspectives presented here are based on the latest controlled studies, meta-analysis, or updated systematic reviews. In the absence of data from controlled studies, consensus recommendations were provided accordingly.

Stressing Out About the Heart: A Narrative Review of the Role of Psychological Stress in Acute Cardiovascular Events

OBJECTIVES

Survivors of acute cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, such as acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stroke, may experience significant psychological distress during and following the acute event. Long-term adverse effects may follow, including the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), increased overall all-cause mortality, and recurrent cardiac events. The goal of this concepts paper is to describe and summarize the rates of adverse psychological outcomes, such as PTSD, following cardiovascular emergencies, to review how these psychological factors are associated with increased risk of future events and long-term health and to provide a theoretical framework for future work.

METHODS

A panel of two board-certified emergency physicians, one with a doctorate in experimental psychology, along with one PhD clinical psychologist with expertise in psychoneuroendocrinology were co-authors involved in the paper. Each author used various search strategies (e.g., PubMed, Psycinfo, Cochrane, and Google Scholar) for primary research and reviewed articles related to their section. The references were reviewed and evaluated for relevancy and included based on review by the lead authors RESULTS: A meta-analysis of 24 studies (N > 2,300) found the prevalence of ACS-induced PTSD at nearly 12%, while a meta-analysis of nine studies (N = 1,138) found that 25% of survivors of transient ischemic attack and stroke report PTSD symptoms. The presence of PTSD doubles 3-year risk of CVD/mortality risk in ACS survivors. Cardiac patients treated during periods of ED overcrowding, hallway care, and perceived poor clinician-patient communication appear at greater risk for subsequent PTSD.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological stress is often present in patients undergoing evaluation for acute CVD events. Understanding such associations provides a foundation to appreciate the potential contribution of psychological variables on acute and long-term cardiovascular recovery, while also stimulating future areas of research and discovery.