Post‐traumatic stress disorder after subarachnoid haemorrhage

OBJECTIVE: Draw attention to the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage patients. DESIGN: Case review of 28 patients referred to clinical neuropsychology via a neurosurgery out-patient clinic. METHOD: Clinical interview of patients presenting with anxiety related to their medical condition. RESULTS: In 50 per cent of patients anxiety was found to be the main presenting problem and 32 per cent of referred patients met the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. CONCLUSION: The case review identified significant psychological morbidity in patients with good physical recovery. This requires detailed scientific evaluation in future studies of outcome.