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Misdiagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder following severe traumatic brain injury
Ruth E Sumpter1, Tom M McMillan
1Community Treatment Centre for Acquired Brain Injury, Glasgow, UK.
Background:
The incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after traumatic brain injury is unclear. One issue involves the validity of diagnosis using self-report questionnaires.
Aims:
To compare PTSD'caseness' arising from questionnaire self-report and structured interview.
Method:
Participants (n=34) with traumatic brain injury were recruited. Screening measures and self-report questionnaires were administered, followed by the structured interview.
Results:
Using questionnaires, 59% fulfilled criteria for PTSD on the Post-traumatic Diagnostic Scale and 44% on the Impact of Events Scale, whereas using structured interview (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale) only 3% were 'cases'. This discrepancy may arise from confusions between effects of PTSD and traumatic brain injury.
Conclusions:
After traumatic brain injury, PTSD self-report measures might be used for screening but not diagnosis.
