An investigation of sex differences in nonpsychiatric morbidity associated with posttraumatic stress disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of the current study are to delineate nonpsychiatric illness associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in order to inform services and interventions for traumatized patients in medical and public health settings. The current report examines sex differences in nonpsychiatric illnesses associated with PTSD in a nationally representative sample. Analyses account for the roles of poverty and major depression, 2 factors strongly linked to both health status and PTSD.


METHODS
Data on 2835 men and 3042 women from the National Comorbidity Survey were analyzed to obtain adjusted odds ratios for the risk of medical conditions and the types of medical conditions associated with PTSD for men and women.


RESULTS
Women and men with PTSD were more than twice as likely to experience at least 1 current nonpsychiatric medical condition as were women and men without PTSD, even when age, socioeconomic status, and major depression were adjusted for. Depression and income below the poverty level were associated with additional risk of nonpsychiatric conditions among women, but not among men.


CONCLUSIONS
PTSD is associated with significant nonpsychiatric illness. The relationship between PTSD and current health conditions is similar for men and women, but depression and poverty, which frequently co-occur with PTSD, define a subset of disadvantaged women with significant health and mental health service needs. Interventions for this population must address the full range of both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric illness.
Kimerling
Rachel
R
Clinical Laboratory and Education Division, National Center for PTSD, Palo Alto VA Health Care System, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology