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Investigations on Alterations of Hippocampal Circuit Function Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
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Published on: November 19, 2012

Amnesia, traumatic brain injury, and posttraumatic stress disorder: a methodological inquiry

Mark Creamer1, Meaghan L O'Donnell, Phillipa Pattison

  • 1Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, ARMC Repat Campus, PO Box 5444, Heidelberg, Victoria 3081, Australia. markcc@unimelb.edu.au

Behaviour Research and Therapy
|August 10, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after trauma, even if the individual has amnesia for the event. Careful assessment of amnesia is crucial for understanding PTSD development following mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI).

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Trauma Research

Background:

  • Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common sequelae of trauma.
  • The relationship between MTBI, amnesia, and PTSD development requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between MTBI, the extent of event amnesia, and the subsequent development of PTSD.
  • To determine if amnesia influences PTSD prevalence after trauma.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 307 trauma center admissions was assessed for MTBI status and amnesia severity.
  • PTSD diagnosis was established at 12 months post-injury.
  • Statistical analysis compared PTSD incidence across MTBI and amnesia subgroups.

Main Results:

  • Amnesia was not consistently associated with MTBI; 18% of MTBI patients had full recall and over half had partial recall.
  • Overall PTSD prevalence at 12 months was approximately 10%, with no significant difference between MTBI and non-MTBI groups.
  • PTSD incidence showed non-significant differences across recall groups: 9% (full recall), 14% (partial recall), and 7% (no recall).

Conclusions:

  • PTSD can manifest after traumatic events irrespective of the presence or extent of amnesia.
  • Clinical and research evaluations of trauma survivors should meticulously assess the degree of event amnesia.
  • Understanding amnesia's role is vital for accurate PTSD diagnosis and management post-trauma.

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