How Can Early Stress Screening Help Prevent PTSD After Cardiac Arrest?

What you need to know

• Early screening for traumatic stress after cardiac arrest helps identify those at risk for developing PTSD
• Partners of cardiac arrest survivors often experience more severe PTSD symptoms than the patients themselves
• Women are at higher risk of developing severe PTSD symptoms after cardiac arrest compared to men

The Hidden Impact of Cardiac Arrest

Imagine suddenly witnessing your loved one collapse from a cardiac arrest. In those terrifying moments, time seems to stand still as you desperately wait for help to arrive. While medical advances have greatly improved survival rates from cardiac arrest, we’re now learning more about the psychological aftermath that can affect both survivors and their partners long after the medical crisis has passed.

Understanding Trauma After Cardiac Arrest

A cardiac arrest is not just a physical medical emergency - it’s also a potentially traumatic event that can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in both patients and their partners. PTSD involves persistent distressing memories, avoidance of reminders of the event, and heightened anxiety that significantly impacts daily life.

Studies show that 21-27% of cardiac arrest survivors and up to 50% of their partners develop significant PTSD symptoms. These symptoms don’t just cause emotional distress - for survivors, PTSD doubles the risk of having another cardiac event.

The Critical Role of Early Screening

This research followed 141 cardiac arrest survivors and 97 of their partners for one year. They were screened for acute stress symptoms at 3 weeks after the cardiac arrest using a questionnaire called the Impact of Event Scale (IES). The study found that higher levels of acute stress in those early weeks strongly predicted who would develop more severe PTSD symptoms months later.

Who’s Most at Risk?

Some key findings emerged about who tends to develop more severe PTSD symptoms:

• Partners showed more severe symptoms than patients themselves - 45-48% of partners developed clinical PTSD symptoms compared to 26-28% of patients
• Women (both patients and partners) experienced significantly higher levels of acute stress and PTSD compared to men
• The intensity of early stress symptoms was the strongest predictor of later PTSD severity

What This Means for You

If you or a loved one has experienced cardiac arrest, be aware that psychological support may be just as important as physical recovery. Here are some key recommendations:

• Don’t wait to seek help if you’re experiencing distressing thoughts, memories, or anxiety
• Both patients and partners should be screened for acute stress within the first few weeks
• Women may need additional support and monitoring
• Consider joining a cardiac support group where you can connect with others who understand
• Remember that PTSD symptoms are a normal response to an abnormal situation and effective treatments are available

Conclusions

• Early screening for acute stress after cardiac arrest can help identify those most at risk for developing PTSD
• Partners of cardiac arrest survivors need just as much support and monitoring as the patients themselves
• Seeking help early is critical - effective treatments are available to prevent long-term PTSD