Racial differences in psychotic symptoms among combat veterans with PTSD.
We tested the hypothesis that race may influence clinical presentation and symptomatology in combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). African-American and Caucasian veterans were administered the Psychotic Screen Module of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), and other psychometric measures at a Veterans Affairs outpatient PTSD clinic. Subjects were consecutive referrals who were not matched for level of combat trauma or preexisting trauma; however, there were no group differences in other relevant demographic or diagnostic variables. Significant racial differences, with modest effect sizes, were found on clinician ratings of psychotic symptoms, MMPI-2 scale 6 ("paranoia"), and a measure of dissociation. No significant differences were found for the MMPI-2 scale 8 ("schizophrenia"), or on measures that might suggest comorbid depression or anxiety. African-Americans with PTSD endorsed more items suggesting positive symptoms of psychosis, without higher rates of primary psychosis, depression, or anxiety than Caucasians.
Frueh
B Christopher
BC
Medical University of South Carolina, Veterans Affairs Medical Center Charleston, South Carolina 29401-5799, USA. ruehbc@musc.edu
Hamner
Mark B
MB
Bernat
Jeffrey A
JA
Turner
Samuel M
SM
Keane
Terence M
TM
Arana
George W
GW
D015897:Comorbidity; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*