Neuropsychological, Psychological, and Injury Variables Associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Individuals Who Suffered an Electrical Injury

Electrical injury (EI) represents a major form of trauma that can greatly impact the individual cognitively, physically, and emotionally. EI can lead to a variety of cognitive impairments affecting attention, processing speed, motor skills, and memory. Furthermore, EI can lead to a variety of physical impairments from burns to cardiac injury. In addition to other psychiatric disorders, individuals who suffer an EI can eventually develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This study examined a clinical sample of 143 individuals (86.0% male, 85.3% Caucasian, 44.1% diagnosed with PTSD) who have experienced an EI to determine the factors associated with the development of PTSD after EI. By using a clinical sample, this study offered greater generalizability compared to previous research on EI which primarily used electricians. Also, this study applied a unique statistical approach that allows for the creation of subgroups within the context of the model. Classification tree analysis via Optimal Data Analysis determined the demographic and injury parameters, psychological, and neuropsychological factors associated with the development of PTSD in individuals post-EI. The strongest predictor of PTSD for the sample in this study was depressive symptoms. Mood symptoms may be utilized in clinical settings to determine individuals more likely to develop PTSD post-EI