J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1997; 9:18-22
Copyright © 1997 by American Neuropsychiatric Association
Posttraumatic stress disorder in patients with traumatic brain injury and amnesia for the event?
DL Warden, LA Labbate, AM Salazar, R Nelson, E Sheley, J Staudenmeier and E Martin
Defense and Veterans Head Injury Program, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-5001, USA.
Frequency of DSM-III-R posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was studied in
47 active-duty service members (46 male, 1 female; mean age 27 = 7) with
moderate traumatic brain injury and neurogenic amnesia for the event.
Patients had attained "oriented and cooperative" recovery level. When
evaluated with a modified Present State Examination and other questions at
various points from study entry to 24-month follow-up, no patients met full
criteria for PTSD or met criterion B (reexperience); 6 (13%) met both C
(avoidance) and D (arousal) criteria. Five of these 6 also had organic mood
disorder, depressed type, and/or organic anxiety disorder. Posttraumatic
amnesia following moderate head injury may protect against recurring
memories and the development of PTSD. Some patients with neurogenic amnesia
may develop a form of PTSD without the reexperiencing symptoms.
