Introduction Caregivers of individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) face substantial psychological burden, including trauma-related symptoms. Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA), characterized by confusion, disorientation, and agitated behaviors, may be particularly distressing to witness. This study examined whether patients' PTA status influences caregivers' psychological outcomes: post- traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Methods 76 informal caregivers of patients with moderate-to-severe ABI were allocated to three groups: PTA-current (C-PTA; n=19), PTA-resolved (R-PTA; n=32), and no-PTA (n=25). Caregivers completed the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5-CV), Impact of Event Scale- Revised (IES-R), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Group differences were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey's HSD post hoc test. Exploratory analyses were conducted within the C-PTA subgroup. Results Significant group differences emerged for PTSD symptoms (F(2,73)=4.862, p=.010, η²=.118), state anxiety (F(2,73)=12.087, p<.001, η²=.249), trait anxiety (F(2,73)=5.076, p=.009, η²=.122), and depression (F(2,73)=3.846, p=.026, η²=.095). Post hoc comparisons showed that C-PTA caregivers had significantly higher scores, though the pattern of pairwise differences varied by measure. No significant differences were found between R-PTA and no-PTA groups. Within the C-PTA subgroup, PTSS correlated strongly with STAI (ρ=.686, p=.001) and depression (ρ=.671, p=.002) questionnaires; exploratory regression analyses confirmed both as significant predictors of PTSS (trait anxiety: adj. R²=0.42; depression: adj. R²=0.53). Discussion Witnessing C-PTA constitutes a significant risk factor for psychological distress in ABI caregivers, probably because the behavioral unpredictability characteristic of PTA may generate intense emotional reactions in caregivers. Notably, caregiver distress was not associated with patients' functional disability, suggesting PTA might be specifically linked to caregivers’ psychological burden. The absence of differences between the R-PTA and no-PTA groups suggests that the acute experience of witnessing PTA, rather than its mere occurrence, might be the primary driver of distress, highlighting the need for dedicated psychological support throughout the rehabilitation period.
The Possible Influence of Post-Traumatic Amnesia in Patients with Acquired Brain Injury on their Caregivers’ Psycho-Emotional Status / Galluzzi, G., Bandiera, V., Quinzi, A., De Luca, M., Fallarino, N., Dolores Villalobos, M., Ciurli, P., Ferrazza, B., Berardi, E., Formisano And Umberto Bivona, R.. - (2026). (Congresso della Società Italiana di Neuropsicologia (SINP) Noto, Siciliy ).
The Possible Influence of Post-Traumatic Amnesia in Patients with Acquired Brain Injury on their Caregivers’ Psycho-Emotional Status
Gaia Galluzzi
Primo
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
2026
Abstract
Introduction Caregivers of individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) face substantial psychological burden, including trauma-related symptoms. Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA), characterized by confusion, disorientation, and agitated behaviors, may be particularly distressing to witness. This study examined whether patients' PTA status influences caregivers' psychological outcomes: post- traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Methods 76 informal caregivers of patients with moderate-to-severe ABI were allocated to three groups: PTA-current (C-PTA; n=19), PTA-resolved (R-PTA; n=32), and no-PTA (n=25). Caregivers completed the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5-CV), Impact of Event Scale- Revised (IES-R), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Group differences were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey's HSD post hoc test. Exploratory analyses were conducted within the C-PTA subgroup. Results Significant group differences emerged for PTSD symptoms (F(2,73)=4.862, p=.010, η²=.118), state anxiety (F(2,73)=12.087, p<.001, η²=.249), trait anxiety (F(2,73)=5.076, p=.009, η²=.122), and depression (F(2,73)=3.846, p=.026, η²=.095). Post hoc comparisons showed that C-PTA caregivers had significantly higher scores, though the pattern of pairwise differences varied by measure. No significant differences were found between R-PTA and no-PTA groups. Within the C-PTA subgroup, PTSS correlated strongly with STAI (ρ=.686, p=.001) and depression (ρ=.671, p=.002) questionnaires; exploratory regression analyses confirmed both as significant predictors of PTSS (trait anxiety: adj. R²=0.42; depression: adj. R²=0.53). Discussion Witnessing C-PTA constitutes a significant risk factor for psychological distress in ABI caregivers, probably because the behavioral unpredictability characteristic of PTA may generate intense emotional reactions in caregivers. Notably, caregiver distress was not associated with patients' functional disability, suggesting PTA might be specifically linked to caregivers’ psychological burden. The absence of differences between the R-PTA and no-PTA groups suggests that the acute experience of witnessing PTA, rather than its mere occurrence, might be the primary driver of distress, highlighting the need for dedicated psychological support throughout the rehabilitation period.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
