{
  "abstract": "Background There is growing recognition that cardiac events and procedures can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with prevalence rates of up to 38% amongst patients who survive a cardiac arrest (Vilchinsky et al, 2017). Importantly, cardiac patients with PTSD are significantly more likely to experience cardiac-related morbidity and mortality (Ahmadi et al, 2011). Patients with sub-clinical trauma symptoms also experience high levels of distress which can significantly impact on functioning and medical outcomes. In recognition of the bidirectional relationship between trauma and cardiac health, the latest BAPCR Standards recommend that all patients attending cardiac rehabilitation undergo a holistic assessment including screening for PTSD. This evaluation examines the impact of including routine screening questions to identify patients presenting with PTSD and sub-clinical trauma symptoms.Methods Two screening questions to assess for two key symptom clusters of PTSD (re-experiencing and avoidance) were incorporated into the psychosocial questionnaires given to all patients attending an assessment within Imperial cardiac rehabilitation programme, as follows:Have you had any nightmares or flashbacks (unwanted memories whilst awake) of your cardiac event or hospital admission?Have you tried to avoid thoughts, feelings, conversations or other reminders about your cardiac event or hospital admission?Patients who responded positively to either or both questions were offered a referral to the psychology service to discuss their difficulties further. The number of referrals for potential PTSD made within a year since the introduction of the screening questionnaires was compared to the number of referrals made within the previous year (without the screening questionnaires).Results As shown in figure 1, the total rate of referrals to psychology and the number of potential trauma referrals were higher in the year with trauma screening. The proportion of psychology referrals for potential trauma cases also increased from 8% in the year with no screening to 33% in the year with trauma screening questions.Abstract MP3 Figure 1Total number of psychology referrals and number of referrals identified as potential trauma cases, with and without trauma screeningConclusion The inclusion of routine trauma screening increases the identification of patients presenting with trauma symptoms at cardiac rehabilitation.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Imperial College London"
      ],
      "name": "Katie Murray"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Imperial College London"
      ],
      "name": "Ghiselle Green"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Imperial College London"
      ],
      "name": "Holly Rimmer"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Imperial College London"
      ],
      "name": "Katerina Theodoropoulou"
    }
  ],
  "title": "MP3 Evaluating the inclusion of trauma screening in routine cardiac rehabilitation assessment",
  "uid": "dfcbb04c-eb3a-5486-95dd-0f8b7def189d"
}