Talea Cornelius1, Jeffrey L Birk2, Lilly Derby2, Julia Ellis2, Donald Edmondson2. 1. Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: tmc2184@cumc.columbia.edu. 2. Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Partners can be beneficial for patients experiencing stressful health events such as a stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA). During such events, however, partners may exacerbate early distress. The present study tested whether having a cohabiting partner modified the association between patients' early perceptions of threat (e.g., feeling vulnerable, helpless) and longer-term posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). METHODS: Participants (N = 328) were drawn from an observational cohort study of patients evaluated for stroke/TIA at an urban academic hospital between 2016 and 2019. Participants self-reported emergency department (ED) threat perceptions and PTSS secondary to the stroke/TIA at three days and one month post-event. RESULTS: Cohabiting partner status modified the association of ED threat with early PTSS. Patients with a cohabiting partner exhibited a positive association between ED threat and early PTSS, B = 0.12, p < .001; those without a cohabiting partner did not, B = 0.04, p = .067. A cohabiting partner was protective only for patients who initially reported low levels of ED threat, as patients with a cohabiting partner who reported low levels of ED threat also had lower early PTSS, B = -0.15, p = .016; at high levels of ED threat, a cohabiting partner was not protective, B = -0.02, p = .68. ED threat was associated with PTSS at one month, B = 0.42, p < .001, but cohabiting partner status did not modify the association. CONCLUSIONS: ED threat perceptions were positively associated with early PTSS only for patients with a cohabiting partner. For patients who do not initially experience a stroke/TIA event as threatening, cohabiting partners may help patients maintain psychological equanimity.
OBJECTIVE: Partners can be beneficial for patients experiencing stressful health events such as a stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA). During such events, however, partners may exacerbate early distress. The present study tested whether having a cohabiting partner modified the association between patients' early perceptions of threat (e.g., feeling vulnerable, helpless) and longer-term posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). METHODS: Participants (N = 328) were drawn from an observational cohort study of patients evaluated for stroke/TIA at an urban academic hospital between 2016 and 2019. Participants self-reported emergency department (ED) threat perceptions and PTSS secondary to the stroke/TIA at three days and one month post-event. RESULTS: Cohabiting partner status modified the association of ED threat with early PTSS. Patients with a cohabiting partner exhibited a positive association between ED threat and early PTSS, B = 0.12, p < .001; those without a cohabiting partner did not, B = 0.04, p = .067. A cohabiting partner was protective only for patients who initially reported low levels of ED threat, as patients with a cohabiting partner who reported low levels of ED threat also had lower early PTSS, B = -0.15, p = .016; at high levels of ED threat, a cohabiting partner was not protective, B = -0.02, p = .68. ED threat was associated with PTSS at one month, B = 0.42, p < .001, but cohabiting partner status did not modify the association. CONCLUSIONS: ED threat perceptions were positively associated with early PTSS only for patients with a cohabiting partner. For patients who do not initially experience a stroke/TIA event as threatening, cohabiting partners may help patients maintain psychological equanimity.
Authors: Matthew White; Donald Edmondson; Redeana Umland; Gabriel Sanchez; Bernard P Chang Journal: Am J Emerg Med Date: 2016-10-25 Impact factor: 2.469
Authors: Rachel C Hemphill; Lynn M Martire; Courtney A Polenick; Mary Ann Parris Stephens Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2016-06-13 Impact factor: 4.267