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Variceal haemorrhage and post-traumatic stress disorder
R E O'Carroll1, G Masterton, R Gooday
1Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, UK. ronan@st-andrews.ac.uk
The British Journal of Clinical Psychology
|July 2, 1999
Summary
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is rare in liver cirrhosis patients after life-threatening variceal bleeding. While most survivors found the event distressing, few met PTSD diagnostic criteria.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Hepatology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Liver cirrhosis patients face life-threatening variceal hemorrhage, involving significant blood loss.
- Such events are considered highly distressing, potentially leading to psychological sequelae like PTSD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in survivors of severe variceal bleeding.
- To determine if the incidence of PTSD aligns with expectations following life-threatening events.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 30 patients experiencing hematemesis due to variceal bleeding was evaluated.
- PTSD diagnosis was determined using the Structured Clinical Diagnostic Interview (SCID-DSM-III-R) and self-report measures.
Main Results:
- The majority of patients reported the bleeding experience as distressing.
- Only one out of 30 patients met the DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for PTSD.
Conclusions:
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is unexpectedly rare among survivors of life-threatening variceal hemorrhage.
- The study discusses potential factors contributing to this low prevalence of PTSD in this specific patient group.