PTSD Rates 10x Higher Post Mini-Stroke

Nearly 30% of individuals who suffer transient ischemic attacks (TIA)—or “mini strokes”—eventually develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as compared to only 3% of the general population.

During a TIA, blood flow to the patient’s brain is temporarily blocked, and those who experience such attacks are 10% to 15% more likely to experience a stroke within 3 months.
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To further explore the stress and emotional burden associated with TIA, researchers followed 108 patients with TIA for 3 months. Using a series of self-rating questionnaires, they charted the rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, as well as the individuals’ quality of life.

Overall, 29.6% of the participants were shown to have PTSD, a number approximately 10 times higher than that found in the general population. These patients were also more likely to have symptoms of anxiety and depression, lower quality of life, and subjectively overestimated stroke risk.

“Because a maladaptive coping style and a subjectively overestimated stroke risk seem to play a crucial role in this adverse progression, the training of adaptive coping strategies and cautious briefing about the realistic stroke risk associated with TIA might be a promising approach,” researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Kiphuth IC, Utz KS, Noble AJ, et al. Increased prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder in patients after transient ischemic attack. Stroke. 2014 Oct 2 [epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.113.004459