Authors: Carroll R. E. O; Masterton G.; Gooday R.; Cossar J. A.; Couston M. C.; Hayes P. C.

Source: British Journal of Clinical Psychology, Volume 38, Number 2, June 1999 , pp. 203-208(6)

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• In this Subject: Psychology
• By this author: Carroll R. E. O ;  Masterton G. ;  Gooday R. ;  Cossar J. A. ;  Couston M. C. ;  Hayes P. C.

Abstract:

Objective. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is thought to be relatively common following extremely distressing life-threatening events. Patients with liver cirrhosis can experience severe brisk variceal haemorrhage during which they vomit litres of blood and may exsanguinate. We predicted that a significant proportion of survivors would suffer from PTSD. Design. PTSD assessment of 30 patients who had a haematemesis of more than four units of blood secondary to variceal bleeding and were fully conscious at the time of the bleed. Method. Structured Clinical Diagnostic Interview (SCID - DSM-III-R) and self-report measures. Results. Most found the experience distressing, but only 1 out of 30 patients fulfilled DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Conclusion. PTSD in a sample of patients who survived life-threatening variceal haemorrhage is much rarer than might reasonably have been anticipated. Possible reasons for this low prevalence of PTSD are discussed.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

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