Longitudinal course and predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms after spinal cord injury

Bibliographic Data

ID21579804
AuthorsSimon Kunz (0000-0003-2828-1716, Empowerment, Participation, & Social Integration Unit, Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland, corresponding author), Corinne Stadler (Swiss Paraplegic Center, Nottwil, Switzerland), Claudio Peters (0000-0001-9713-3210, Swiss Paraplegic Research), Claudio Peter (Empowerment, Participation, & Social Integration Unit, Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland)
Year2021
Volume36
Issue9
Pages1115-1134
Publication date2021-09-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychology & Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0887-0446 • E-ISSN: 1476-8321
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/08870446.2020.1826483
PMID33017196
OpenAlexW3090077742
LanguageEN
References cited42

Objective This study examined longitudinal changes in post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in individuals newly diagnosed with spinal cord injury (SCI) and tested various psychosocial and injury-related characteristics as predictors for interindividual differences in symptom courses.Design Longitudinal data from the larger Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort Study were used. The sample consisted of 269 patients (70.6% male; Mage = 53.21) admitted for inpatient rehabilitation to SCI rehabilitation centers.Main Outcome Measure PTSS were measured at one and six months after injury using the Impact of Event Scale-6.Results Latent change score modelling revealed no average change in PTSS in the sample, but significant variability in the individual symptom courses. Reliable change index analyses suggest that among individuals with an initial PTSS severity of clinical concern (n = 65), only 27.7% showed clinically significant decreases over time. Predictors explained 34% of the variance in PTSS change. Loss appraisals (β = .30, p < .001) and cause of injury (β = .16, p = .018) emerged as unique predictors.Conclusion Clinically elevated PTSS one month after SCI typically remain across the following months highlighting the need for early screening and intervention. Low loss appraisals were related to decreases in symptom severity and might therefore be a suitable intervention target for reducing PTSS after SCI

Longitudinal study · Physical medicine and rehabilitation · Physical therapy · Posttraumatic stress · Psychiatry · Psychosocial · Spinal cord · Spinal cord injury · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Psychology · Spinal Cord Injury Research · Sport Psychology and Performance · Traumatic Brain Injury Research · Rehabilitation

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