A person-centred approach to modelling population experiences of trauma and mental illness.
BACKGROUND
Exposure to traumatic events has been implicated in the onset and development of a range of psychiatric disorders. People can be exposed to multiple traumatic events and previous research suggests that traumatic experiences may cluster at the individual level.


METHODS
This study aimed to examine the distribution of traumatic experiences in a large nationally representative sample using latent class analysis, and estimate the relationship between these classes and a number of demographic and clinical variables. Data from the National Comorbidity Survey was used.


RESULTS
Four latent classes, each representative of a range of traumatic experiences were identified. The classes were labelled 'high risk' (class 1), 'exposure to non-sexual adult interpersonal/non-interpersonal trauma' (class 2), 'intermediate risk/sexual abuse' (class 3), and 'low risk' (class 4). Each of the latent classes was predicted by several of the demographic variables. In addition, membership of classes 1, 2, and 3 increased the risk of each of the clinical variables.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings have clinical implications for the assessment of trauma histories across a range of psychiatric diagnoses.
Houston
James E
JE
Nottingham Trent University, Burton Street, Nottingham, NG1 4BU, UK. james.houston@ntu.ac.uk
Shevlin
Mark
M
Adamson
Gary
G
Murphy
Jamie
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D017677:Age Distribution; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D015897:Comorbidity; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015995:Prevalence; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology