Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale Research Articles

Psychometric Properties of the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS) in Alcohol-Dependent Patients

ABSTRACTBackground: A high prevalence of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is found in patients with substance use disorders (SUDs). In the few existing studies, mixed results regarding the psychometric properties of common screening instruments for PTSD have been reported for patients with SUDs. No results are available for the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS), an established self-report measure for PTSD.Methods: The authors assessed 105 patients with alcohol dependence according to DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) (70% male) 2 weeks after their admission to an inpatient detoxification unit. Participants were administered the PDS, the PTSD module of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID), as well as measures of depression and anxiety. Patients with other substance use disorders were excluded as were patients reporting no traumatic event. Results: Internal consistencies were good to very good for the total scale (.93) and the subscales of the PDS (.82–.91). In our sample, the PDS had a high specificity (.89) but only moderate sensitivity (.57). Diagnostic agreement with the SCID was 83% (.46). The results of a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis suggested that a PDS score of 8 was the optimal cutoff to screen for PTSD. The highest diagnostic agreement between PDS and SCID (89%; .60) was achieved using a cutoff score of 24. Conclusions: These findings confirm previous results suggesting that the psychometric properties of self-report measures of PTSD in patients with SUDs might differ from those in the general population. When the PDS is used in recently detoxified patients with alcohol dependence, it seems advisable to modify the cutoff score of this instrument to improve its sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy.

Topiramate impairs cognitive function in cocaine-dependent individuals maintained on methadone

Topiramate impairs cognitive function in cocaine-dependent individuals maintained on methadone

Differences in mood and quality of life indicators by HIV status in a group of methamphetamine-dependent individuals

Differences in mood and quality of life indicators by HIV status in a group of methamphetamine-dependent individuals

Personal values in soldiers after military deployment: associations with mental health and resilience

BackgroundAfter military deployment, soldiers are at an increased risk of developing posttraumatic psychiatric disorders. The correlation of personal values with symptoms, however, has not yet been examined within a military context.MethodSchwartz’s Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ), the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS), and the 11-item version of the Resilience Scale (RS-11) were completed by 117 soldiers of the German Armed Forces who had recently been deployed to Afghanistan (n=40 undergoing initial psychiatric treatment, n=77 untreated).ResultsLogistic regression showed that the value types of hedonism (−), power (−), tradition (+), and universalism (+) were significantly correlated with the probability and severity of PTSD and whether the participant was in treatment or not. The effects were partially mediated by the RS-11 scale values.ConclusionsValue types seem to be associated with psychiatric symptoms in soldiers after deployment. These results could contribute to the further development of therapeutic approaches.

Efficacy of an internet-based cognitive-behavioral intervention for long-term survivors of pediatric cancer: a pilot study

Long-term survivors of pediatric cancer have an increased risk of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and dysfunctional anxiety. However, there is a lack of evidence-based psychotherapy tailored to the needs of this target group. In this single-arm pilot study, an Internet-based psychological intervention ("Onco-STEP") for adolescent and young adult survivors was developed, and its efficacy in reducing PTSS and anxiety was evaluated. Former patients of pediatric cancer older than 15 years manifesting clinically relevant PTSS or anxiety were eligible. The cognitive-behavioral treatment consists of ten writing sessions and comprises two modules: the first aiming to reprocess the traumatic cancer-related experiences and the second aiming to build coping strategies with current cancer-related fears. Treatment was delivered via written messages on a secure Internet platform. Outcomes were assessed by the Post-traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Fear of Progression/Relapse Questionnaire. A total of 20 participants completed the intervention (mean age 27.3 ± 4.8 years at study; 13.8 ± 4.7 years since diagnosis; 70 % female). PTSS, anxiety, and fear of progression/relapse significantly declined at the end of the intervention, with pre-post effect sizes of 0.63, 0.74, and 0.48. In addition, we found a significant decrease in symptoms of depression. Except for the improvement in depression, all effects were sustained 3 months after the end of treatment. The results show that the intervention is efficacious in reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress and anxiety. Onco-STEP is a promising new way to treat young adult long-term survivors of pediatric cancer with late psychological effects. Future efforts need to focus on investigating specific evidence of the intervention in a randomized controlled trial.

Posttraumatic Symptom Structure Across Age Groups

The applicability of diagnostic criteria of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder to the pediatric population has been a focus of much debate (e.g., Carrion, Weems, Ray, & Reiss, 2002), informing changes in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM–5). The current study examined the factor structure of posttraumatic distress among adult versus pediatric samples using confirmatory factor analysis. The analysis was performed on the DSM–IV-adherent Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (Foa, Cashman, Jaycox, & Perry, 1997) and Child Posttraumatic Symptom Scale (Foa, Johnson, Feeny, & Treadwell, 2001). The sample included 378 adult and 204 child and adolescent victims of diverse single-event traumas. A series of models based on previous findings and DSM–IV specification were evaluated. A 4-factor model (Intrusions, Avoidance, Dysphoria, and Hyperarousal), similar to the DSM–5 model, best fit the data among adults, and a different 4-factor model (Intrusion, Avodiance, Numbing, and Hyperarousal) best fit the data among children and adolescents. Despite some similarity, the posttraumatic symptom profiles of pediatric and adult samples may differ. These differences are not fully incorporated into the DSM–5, and warrant further examination.

Long-Term Effects of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Compared with Non-Sexual War Trauma in Female World War II Survivors: A Matched Pairs Study

The aim of the study was to compare the long-term effects of conflict-related sexual violence experienced at the end of World War II (WWII) with non-sexual WWII trauma (e.g., being exposed to shell shock or physical violence). A total of 27 elderly wartime rape survivors were compared to age- and gender-matched control subjects who were drawn from a larger sample of subjects over 70years of age who had experienced WWII-related trauma. A modified version of the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale was used to assess trauma characteristics and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 was used to assess current psychopathology. Additionally, measures of posttraumatic growth (Posttraumatic Growth Inventory) and social acknowledgement as a trauma survivor (Social Acknowledgement Questionnaire) were used to assess two mediating variables in post-trauma conditions of rape victims. Women exposed to conflict-related sexual violence reported greater severity of PTSD-related avoidance and hyperarousal symptoms, as well as anxiety, compared with female long-term survivors of non-sexual WWII trauma. The vast majority (80.9%) of these women also reported severe sexual problems during their lifetimes relative to 19.0% of women who experienced non-sexual war trauma. Women exposed to conflict-related sexual violence also reported greater posttraumatic growth, but less social acknowledgement as trauma survivors, compared to survivors of non-sexual war trauma. The results were consistent with emerging neurobiological research, which suggests that different traumas may be differentially associated with long-term posttraumatic sequelae in sexual assault survivors than in other survivor groups and highlights the need to treat (or better prevent) deleterious effects of conflict-related sexual violence in current worldwide crisis zones.

Guided internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: A randomized controlled trial

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effects of guided internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sixty-two participants with chronic PTSD, as assessed by the Clinician-administered PTSD Scale, were recruited via nationwide advertising and randomized to either treatment (n=31) or delayed treatment attention control (n=31). The ICBT treatment consisted of 8 weekly text-based modules containing psychoeducation, breathing retraining, imaginal and in vivo exposure, cognitive restructuring, and relapse prevention. Therapist support and feedback on homework assignment were given weekly via an online contact handling system. Assessments were made at baseline, post-treatment, and at 1-year follow-up. Main outcome measures were the Impact of Events Scale — Revised (IES-R) and the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS). Results showed significant reductions of PTSD symptoms (between group effect on the IES-R Cohen's d=1.25, and d=1.24 for the PDS) compared to the control group. There were also effects on depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and quality of life. The results at one-year follow-up showed that treatment gains were maintained. In sum, these results suggest that ICBT with therapist support can reduce PTSD symptoms significantly.

Screening for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Symptom-based self-rating measures were established to detect individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after specific traumatic events. The aim of the present study was to compare the diagnostic efficiency of the German version of the Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ), the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS), and an 8-item subset of the PDS. Receiver-operating-characteristic analyses are determined in a treatment-seeking outpatient sample (N = 208) with mixed trauma type. The areas under the curve (AUC) for all measures were found to be moderate (AUC = 0.77–0.81); hence, measures did not differ in terms of their discriminatory abilities. Using the favored cutoff points, sensitivity (53–81%) and specificity (71–84%) values were at a level that was only moderate. Considering the high economic burden due to PTSD and the moderate specificity values, a two-stage screening approach might result in only moderate cost-efficiency for treatment-seeking outpatients. In addition, our results support the notion that discriminatory abilities and operating characteristics based on samples with a specific trauma type have to be cross-validated.

Investigating the Relationships between Self-Consistency, Trauma-Themed Self-Concept and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

Investigating the Relationships between Self-Consistency, Trauma-Themed Self-Concept and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationships between self-consistency, trauma-themed self-concept and PTSD symptom severity. Participants (N = 97) completed the Centrality of Event Scale, a measure of self-consistency and the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale. As previously found, trauma-themed self-concept was found to be positively associated with PTSD symptom severity. Self-consistency was found to be negatively associated with PTSD symptom severity and trauma-themed self-concept. Mediation analyses indicated that trauma-themed self-concept mediated the relationship between self-consistency and PTSD symptom severity. The findings suggest that self-consistency is related to better posttraumatic psychological adjustment.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing in the treatment of trauma with mild intellectual disabilities: a case study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in an individual with mild intellectual disabilities currently compulsorily detained in secure care. Design/methodology/approach – The intervention utilised the EMDR eight-phase protocolised psychotherapeutic approach. Sessions utilised symbol cards to explore the impact of the client's experiences in relation to his thoughts, emotional feelings, physical feelings and behaviour. Drawings were also utilised to assist the client to develop a picture of the traumatic incident. A “safe place visualisation technique” was also utilised at the end of every session to manage any distress. The Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS) with some minor adaptations for use with people with intellectual disabilities was utilised as a pre- and post-measure. Findings – The study identified reductions in symptoms in all three core clinical subgroups of the PDS: re-experiencing, avoidance and arousal, with outcomes being maintained at one-month and six -month follow-up. Reduction in the strength of ratings was most evident in the avoidance domain. Originality/value – There are limited studies exploring the effectiveness of EMDR with individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Prevalence and Predictors of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Adults One Year Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Population-based Study

Objective: Experiencing a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, this has not been examined in a population-based context. This study examined prevalence and predictors (demographic and injury related) of PTSD 1 year after TBI in a population-based sample.Method: A population-based TBI incidence and outcomes study was conducted in Hamilton and Waikato Districts of New Zealand over 12 months (February 2011–March 2012) with follow-up at 1 year. The relationship of baseline demographic and TBI characteristics to PTSD (Post-traumatic Diagnostic Scale; PDS) was examined in 431 adults (>15 years old) 1 year post-TBI.Results: On average, participants reported three PTSD symptoms, with heightened arousal being the most commonly reported. Nearly 18% of participants met criteria for PTSD. These participants were significantly more likely to report pre-TBI history of depression/anxiety, and to have drugs implicated in the injury. Regression indicated that female gender, increased loss of consciousness (LOC) and intentional injury predicted PTSD severity (R2= .109,F[6, 294] = 6.007,p< .001) and number of symptoms (R2= .098,F[3, 297] = 4.562,p< .001).Conclusion: PTSD occurred as a long-term sequela in 18% of participants after TBI, with increased PTSD severity and greater number of symptoms associated with female gender, longer LOC and intentional injury. These findings have implications for identification and targeting of assessment and intervention resources towards those at greatest risk of PTSD following TBI.

Neuroimmunological function in parents of children suffering from cancer

The main aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between depression and immunological function in parents of children with cancer. Thirty-two parents participated in the study. The parents completed the following assessments: a list of major stressful events in a Hemato-Oncology ward, beck depression inventory II (BDI-II), posttraumatic diagnostic scale (PDS) and quality of life (QOL) questionnaire. A single blood sample was drawn from parents for evaluation of cortisol levels and lymphocyte cell subgroups. The parents were divided into two groups: Those who suffered from depression as defined by BDI-II cutoff score of 14 (depressed parents (DP), n = 7), and non-depressed parents (non-DP, n = 25). In parents of children with cancer the DP group had statistically significantly higher stressful event scores, dysfunction scores (from the PDS) and CD8 percentage compared to the non-DP group. QOL, CD4 percentage and CD4/CD8 ratio were significantly lower in the DP group. The BDI scores significantly positively correlated with events and dysfunctional scores, and significantly negatively correlated with QOL scores and CD4/CD8 ratio. High psychiatric morbidity was found in parents of children with cancer. The findings of altered immunity in DP provide further evidence that the physiological response to stress and depression may alter immune functions.

Chinese My Trauma Recovery, A Web-Based Intervention for Traumatized Persons in Two Parallel Samples: Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundGuided self-help interventions for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) are a promising tool for the dissemination of contemporary psychological treatment.ObjectiveThis study investigated the efficacy of the Chinese version of the My Trauma Recovery (CMTR) website.MethodsIn an urban context, 90 survivors of different trauma types were recruited via Internet advertisements and allocated to a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a waiting list control condition. In addition, in a rural context, 93 survivors mainly of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake were recruited in-person for a parallel RCT in which the website intervention was conducted in a counseling center and guided by volunteers. Assessment was completed online on a professional Chinese survey website. The primary outcome measure was the Post-traumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS); secondary outcome measures were Symptom Checklist 90-Depression (SCL-D), Trauma Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSE), Post-traumatic Cognitive Changes (PCC), and Social Functioning Impairment (SFI) questionnaires adopted from the My Trauma Recovery website.ResultsFor the urban sample, findings indicated a significant group×time interaction in post-traumatic symptom severity (F 1,88=7.65, P=.007). CMTR reduced post-traumatic symptoms significantly with high effect size after one month of treatment (F 1,45=15.13, Cohen’s d=0.81, P<.001) and the reduction was sustained over a 3-month follow-up (F 1,45=17.29, Cohen’s d=0.87, P<.001). In the rural sample, the group×time interaction was also significant in post-traumatic symptom severity (F 1,91=5.35, P=.02). Post-traumatic symptoms decreased significantly after treatment (F 1,48=43.97, Cohen’s d=1.34, P<.001) and during the follow-up period (F 1,48=24.22, Cohen’s d=0.99, P<.001). Additional outcome measures (post-traumatic cognitive changes, depression) indicated a range of positive effects, in particular in the urban sample (group×time interactions: F 1,88=5.32-8.37, all Ps<.03), contributing to the positive evidence for self-help interventions. Differences in the effects in the two RCTs are exploratorily explained by sociodemographic, motivational, and setting feature differences between the two samples.ConclusionsThese findings give support for the short-term efficacy of CMTR in the two Chinese populations and contribute to the literature that self-help Web-based programs can be used to provide mental health help for traumatized persons.Trial RegistrationAustralia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12611000951954; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12611000951954 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6G7WyNODk).

Mental Health in Residents 1.5 Years After the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill

Background: The assessment of the acute-phase mental health of the residents in the oil spill area showed a high degree of risk. Aims: The study intends to analyze the correlation between the damage of oil spill and mental health of the residents in the oil spill area, and identify the status of residents’ mental health according to the distance from the point of accident and the number of day for clean-up operation. Methods: The community survey of 9,246 residents was conducted 1.5 years after the oil spill accident. PTSD, depression, stress and anxiety were performed using the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Psychological Wellbeing Index, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Results: After adjusting for the covariates, the risks of having the symptoms of PTSD (OR 2.80, OR 3.24), depression (OR 1.13, OR 1.95), stress (OR 1.22, OR 1.36), and/or trait-anxiety (OR 1.52, OR 1.64) increased significantly according to the distance from the oil spill point to the residence and the total number of days of clean-up of participation.. conclusions: A higher rate of symptoms of mental health was found as the residents live closer to the accident point, and participate in longer clean-up work duration. it necessary to monitor the long-term mental health in residents

A Follow-up Study on Mental Health of Residents in High Exposed Area After 4 Years of the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill

Background: There was a significant dose-response relationship between mental health outcomes and the number of days of clean-up activity and/or the distance from the accident point 1.5 years after the accident. Aims: To look into whether the residents have recovered from mental health or were still being affected mentally by the oil spill in highly exposed residents 4 years after the accident. Methods: We conducted two follow-up studies in 2010 and 2012 after the baseline survey in 2009 on 618 highly exposed inhabitants who have participated in all three surveys. We measured posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, stress, and anxiety using Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Psychological Wellbeing Index (PWI), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), respectively. Results: Depression, psychosocial stress, and anxiety hardly decreased from the first survey to the second, and to the third survey, whereas PTSD significantly decreased. We divided two groups according to the distance among highly exposed residents to check the mental health recovery over time. The post-traumatic stress and trait anxiety in high-exposed group recovered slowly than the low-exposed group with a statistically significant difference. Conclusions: The mental health of highly exposed residents have not been fully recuperate yet 4 years after the accident. Therefore, follow-up studies are necessary to define long-lasing mental health due to the Hebei Spirit oil spill.

The impact of self-efficacy, alexithymia and multiple traumas on posttraumatic stress disorder and psychiatric co-morbidity following epileptic seizures: A moderated mediation analysis

This study investigated the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychiatric co-morbidity following epileptic seizure, whether alexithymia mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and psychiatric outcomes, and whether the mediational effect was moderated by the severity of PTSD from other traumas. Seventy-one (M=31, F=40) people with a diagnosis of epilepsy recruited from support groups in the United Kingdom completed the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 and the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale. They were compared with 71 people (M=29, F=42) without epilepsy. For people with epilepsy, 51% and 22% met the diagnostic criteria for post-epileptic seizure PTSD and for PTSD following one other traumatic life event respectively. For the control group, 24% met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD following other traumatic life events. The epilepsy group reported significantly more anxiety and depression than the control. Partial least squares (PLS) analysis showed that self-efficacy was significantly correlated with alexithymia, post-epileptic seizure PTSD and psychiatric co-morbidity. Alexithymia was also significantly correlated with post-epileptic seizure PTSD and psychiatric co-morbidity. Mediation analyses confirmed that alexithymia mediated the path between self-efficacy and post-epileptic seizure PTSD and psychiatric co-morbidity. Moderated mediation also confirmed that self-efficacy and PTSD from one other trauma moderated the effect of alexithymia on outcomes. To conclude, people can develop posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and psychiatric co-morbidity following epileptic seizure. These psychiatric outcomes are closely linked with their belief in personal competence to deal with stressful situations and regulate their own functioning, to process rather than defend against distressing emotions, and with the degree of PTSD from other traumas.

Trauma, mental health, and intergenerational associations in Kosovar Families 11 years after the war

BackgroundWhile there is a considerable amount of literature addressing consequences of trauma in veterans and holocaust survivors, war and postwar civilian populations, particularly children, are still understudied. Evidence regarding intergenerational effects of trauma in families is inconsistent.ObjectiveTo shed light on intergenerational aspects of trauma-related mental health problems among families 11 years after the Kosovo war.MethodIn a cross-sectional study, a paired sample of 51 randomly selected triplets (school-aged child, mother, father, N=153) of Kosovar families was investigated with regard to trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress (UCLA Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale), anxiety (Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25), and depressive symptoms (Depressionsinventar für Kinder und Jugendliche [DIKJ; depression inventory for children and adolescents], Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25).ResultsConsiderable trauma exposure and high prevalence rates of clinically relevant posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were found in both parents and children. While strong correlations were found between children's depressive symptoms and paternal posttraumatic stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, maternal symptoms did not correlate with their children's. In multiple regression analyses, only posttraumatic stress symptoms of fathers were significantly related with children's depressive symptoms.ConclusionEleven years after the Kosovo war, the presence of posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in civilian adults and their children is still substantial. As symptoms of parents and children are associated, mental health problems of close ones should be actively screened and accounted for in comprehensive treatment plans, using a systemic approach. Future research should include longitudinal studies conducting multivariate analyses with larger sample sizes in order to investigate indicators, causal and resilience factors.

Posttraumatic stress disorder diagnostic criteria and suicidal ideation in a South African Police sample

Exposure to traumatic events may precipitate suicidal ideation. Once an individual is diagnosed with PTSD, a suicide risk assessment often follows. This study explores how PTSD symptom criteria correlate with suicidal ideation in a sample of police officers. While the psychometric measures of PTSD often mirror the DSM-IV-TR criteria, focusing on exposure, symptom, and duration criteria, suicidal ideation measures often focus on concepts quite different from that. In this report the focus was on investigating how PTSD symptom criteria correlate with the suicidal ideation. A group of South African police officers (N = 217) were assessed by means of the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale and a short version of the Adult Suicide Ideation Questionnaire. Linear and hierarchical regressions were used to determine which PTSD symptom criteria best predict suicidal ideation. Hyperarousal was the primary predictor of suicidal ideation (R(2) [adjusted] = 0.249). Intrusive thoughts added only marginally to the model, contributing a further 2.5% to the declared variance. The contributions of the other two symptom types were negligible. In this study hyperarousal correlated significantly with suicidal ideation. It is suggested that practitioners be alert to these symptoms as possible indicators of suicidal ideation. Implications for suicide risk assessment and prevention measures are discussed.

Diagnosis of Spontaneous Cervical Artery Dissection May Be Associated with Increased Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Receiving information that one has a dissected cervical artery, which can cause a stroke at any time, is obviously traumatic, but details about the psychiatric and psychosocial sequelae are not known. We investigated the prevalence of and risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with spontaneous cervical artery dissection (CD) and the impact of PTSD on their psychosocial functioning. Patients admitted because of CD between 2006 and 2010 were retrospectively examined using a diagnostic PTSD measure (Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale). Patients between 2011 and 2012 were examined prospectively. To identify potential predictors for PTSD, we examined all patients' stress coping strategies (brief COPE inventory), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), impairment by preventive medication, time since diagnosis and their neurologic (modified Rankin Scale) and cognitive status. To identify the psychosocial impact of PTSD, we examined quality of life (Short-Form 36). Data of 47 retrospectively contacted patients and 15 prospectively examined patients were included. Twenty-eight patients (45.2%) met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. A significantly reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was found in 27 patients (43.5%) for mental health and in 8 patients (12.9%) for physical health. Results of logistic regression analysis revealed that the use of maladaptive coping strategies was predictive of the disorder (P < .0001). Age, sex, mRS score, impairment caused by medication, and time since diagnosis were not predictive for PTSD. The presence of PTSD itself was the only significant predictor for reduced mental HRQol (P = .0004). Age, sex, mRS score, impairment caused by medication, and total Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score were not predictive for reduced mental HRQoL. PTSD seems to occur frequently in patients with CD and is associated with reduced mental HRQoL. Because the presence of a maladaptive coping style is correlated with PTSD, teaching patients better coping skills might be helpful.