title: Prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder in women with breast cancer.
abstract: This study investigated whether diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer produced posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adult women. One hundred sixty women with early stage node-negative breast cancer completed self-report questionnaires and underwent a full diagnostic assessment (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R). PTSD symptoms were common; however, only 3% of the women interviewed met stringent criteria for cancer-related PTSD in the 4-12 months following the completion of their medical treatment. Thus, breast cancer produced considerable distress, but low rates of PTSD, and may not fit well as a Criterion A stressor event for PTSD. Caution is urged for an assumption of a PTSD diagnosis based on self-reported symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Krupnick
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stockton
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Spertus
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steakley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires