Longitudinal analysis of the relationship between symptoms and quality of life in veterans treated for posttraumatic stress disorder.
This study examined how change in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms relates to change in quality of life. The sample consisted of 325 male Vietnam veterans with chronic PTSD who participated in a randomized trial of group psychotherapy. Latent growth modeling was used to test for synchronous effects of PTSD symptom change on psychosocial and physical health-related quality of life within the same time period and lagged effects of initial PTSD symptom change on later change in quality of life. PTSD symptoms were associated with reduced quality of life before treatment. There were synchronous effects of symptom change on change in quality of life but no significant lagged effects. Results indicate the importance of measuring quality of life in future investigations of PTSD treatment.
Schnurr
Paula P
PP
National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, US Veterans Affrais Medical Center, VT 05009, USA. paula.schnurr@dartmouth.edu
Hayes
Andrew F
AF
Lunney
Carole A
CA
McFall
Miles
M
Uddo
Madeline
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data