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Published on: October 10, 2012
Can anesthesia trigger delayed-onset posttraumatic stress disorder in veterans?
Kathrene Carter Berger1, Kathleen Scharer
1School of Nursing, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. bergerk@mailbox.sc.edu
Perspectives in Psychiatric Care
|June 26, 2012
Summary
Delayed-onset posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after surgery. Clinicians should consider surgical and anesthetic history in patients presenting with PTSD symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Gerontology
Background:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often associated with direct trauma exposure.
- Delayed-onset PTSD, particularly after medical procedures, is less understood.
- Aging and anesthesia may influence memory and psychological responses to surgery.
Observation:
- A case study of a 60-year-old Vietnam veteran presenting with delayed-onset PTSD following surgery.
- The patient's history included significant combat trauma.
- The presentation highlights the complex interplay of past trauma, surgical experience, and potential contributing factors.
Findings:
- Surgery can act as a trigger for latent or delayed-onset PTSD.
- Mechanisms of traumatic memory storage may be implicated in the development of PTSD post-surgery.
- Anesthesia and the aging process could potentially modulate the risk or presentation of PTSD.
Implications:
- Clinicians should inquire about surgical and anesthetic history in patients with delayed-onset PTSD.
- Understanding the role of memory, anesthesia, and aging is crucial for managing PTSD.
- Proactive screening and communication among patient, surgeon, and anesthetist can mitigate risks.
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