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 posttraumatic 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.