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Increased Risk of Anxiety, PTSD Post-Brain Injury

J Head Trauma Rehabil; ePub 2016 Nov 8; Albrecht, et al

Publish date:

There is an increased risk of anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to a recent study. Routine screening for anxiety and PTSD, especially during the first 5 months after TBI, may help clinicians identify these important and treatable conditions, especially among patients with a history of psychiatric illness. In a retrospective cohort study, researchers evaluated a total of 96,881 Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with TBI between June 1, 2006, and May 31, 2010. They found:

  • After TBI, 16,519 (17%) beneficiaries were diagnosed with anxiety and 269 (0.3%) were diagnosed with PTSD.
  • Rates of anxiety and PTSD diagnoses were highest in the first 5 months post-TBI and decreased over time.
  • Pre-TBI diagnosis of anxiety disorder was significantly associated with post-TBI anxiety and pre-TBI diagnosis of PTSD was significantly associated with post-TBI PTSD.

Citation:

Albrecht JS, Peters ME, Smith GS, Rao V. Anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder among Medicare beneficiaries after traumatic brain injury. [Published online ahead of print November 8, 2016]. J Head Trauma Rehabil. doi:10.1097/HTR.0000000000000266.

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