Post-traumatic stress symptoms in relatives in the first weeks after severe XXXX .

@entity1 @entity131 @entity772 @entity1642 @entity130
INTRODUCTION: Severe @entity131 (STBI) can cause @entity1642 in proxies in the long-term. This study assessed post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms in proxies of survivors of STBI in the short-term and investigated stress-associated factors. METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional study, conducted at three Swiss @entity130 centres over 1 year. @entity1 and proxy demographics, @entity130 data including Glasgow @entity772 Scale (GCS) and management data were collected. The proxies' PTS symptoms were assessed by applying the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), once in the first month after the accident (median: 11 days). RESULTS: Sixty-nine proxies were included; 52 proxies were female (77.8%). Mean IES-R sum score for intrusions was 13.38 (SD=7.26), for avoidance 8.91 (SD=5.94), and for hyperarousal 9.07 (SD=6.75). Clinically significant PTS symptoms were observed in 36 proxies (52.2%); mean IES-R sum scores were significantly higher in @entity1 . IES-R sub-scale values were inversely related with GCS at the scene of the accident and on hospital admission. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of proxies had clinically significant PTS symptoms shortly after their relative's accident. More severe PTS symptoms were found in @entity1 and in proxies of @entity1 with poorer initial GCS scores. Further research into risk groups in the short- and long-term and the long-term impact on @entity1 of PTS syndrome in proxies is warranted.
