title: Physical symptoms in post-traumatic stress disorder.
abstract: Physical complaints are recognised accompaniments of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This study investigates the reporting of physical complaints in a treatment-naive sample of fire-fighters with and without PTSD. Statistically higher rates of cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal and neurological symptoms were reported in the PTSD group. Possible explanations are discussed, with an exploration of the contribution of arousal, disordered information processing, dissociation, comorbid diagnoses and premorbid personality. The role of the original stressor and sociocultural issues are explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hillcrest Hospital, University of Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atchison
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rafalowicz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papay
mesh_terms: D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires