A feasibility pilot study on the use of text messages to track PTSD symptoms after a traumatic injury

作者：Price Matthew^*; Ruggiero Kenneth J; Ferguson Pamela L; Patel Sachin K; Treiber Frank; Couillard Deborah; Fahkry Samir M

来源：General Hospital Psychiatry, 2014, 36(3): 249-254.

DOI：10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.02.004

• PTSD
• Traumatic stress
• Text messages
• Technology

Objective: Monitoring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms after a traumatic injury is beneficial for patients and providers. Text messages can be used to automatically monitor symptoms and impose minimal burden to patients and providers. The present study piloted such a strategy with traumatic injury patients. %26lt;br%26gt;Method: An automated daily text message was piloted to evaluate PTSD symptoms after discharge from the hospital. Twenty-nine patients who experienced a traumatic injury received 15 daily texts and were then followed up at 1-month and 3-months after discharge. %26lt;br%26gt;Results: 82.8% of the sample responded at least once and the average response rate per participant was 63.1%. Response rates were correlated with PTSD symptoms at baseline but not at any other time. Patient satisfaction with this approach was high. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusion: Text messages are a viable method to monitor PTSD symptoms after a traumatic injury. Such an approach should be evaluated on a larger scale as part of a more comprehensive early intervention for traumatic stress.

• 出版日期2014-6