title: The link between post-traumatic stress disorder and physical comorbidities: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Returning veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq will increase frequency of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Little is known about its impact on physical health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Systematic literature review focusing on the association between PTSD and specific physical disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic search using PUBMED and hand search of four journals with an anxiety focus for studies published between January 1981 and July 2008, plus a manual search of article bibliographies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Original research reports focusing on PTSD and its association with physical health. Studies investigating only PTSD symptoms, trauma and physical disorders classified at the organ-system level were excluded. Eighty studies were reviewed and seven selected for final analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specific physical-health diagnoses were organized by system and tabulated. They were considered positive only if results were statistically significant. Total number of positive and negative studies for each diagnosis was then calculated for review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven studies examined the relationship between PTSD and specific physical disorders. Arthritis was associated with PTSD in most studies. Data conflicted regarding diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few studies have examined the relationship between PTSD and physical health. Large, prospective epidemiological trials are needed.
authors.affiliation: Houston Center for Quality of Care & Utilization Studies, Health Services Research and Development Service, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center (152), 2002 Holcombe, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Salah U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pyne
authors.forename: Kathy M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Magruder
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kunik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*