Social anxiety, depression, and PTSD in Vietnam veterans.
Many Vietnam veterans with PTSD report a high level of social anxiety and avoidance. Many traumatized individuals also suffer from symptoms of depression, which is often associated with significant problems in social functioning. In order to explore the relationship between social anxiety, depression, and PTSD, we recruited a group of Vietnam veterans with PTSD (n = 27), veterans with other mental disorders (n = 20), and veterans with no mental disorders (n = 35). Participants were administered diagnostic interviews and some of the most commonly used social anxiety instruments. Although the groups did not differ in their rates of social phobia, veterans with PTSD scored highest in most social anxiety measures. Veterans with PTSD were also more likely to be clinically depressed than veterans without PTSD at the time of the assessment. When controlling for the level of depression, the three groups no longer differed in any of the social anxiety measures. Furthermore, level of depression was the best predictor for group membership. These findings suggest that social anxiety in Vietnam combat veterans with PTSD is closely associated with mood disturbance, social withdrawal, and isolation associated with depression.
Hofmann
Stefan G
SG
Department of Psychology, Boston University, 648 Beacon Street, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02215, USA. shofmann@bu.edu
Litz
Brett T
BT
Weathers
Frank W
FW
D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014744:Vietnam