title: A population-based study of associations between current posttraumatic stress symptoms and current fatigue.
abstract: This study explores current experience with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and other variables (sociodemographic, mental distress, somatic morbidity, self-rated health, and quality of life [QoL]) in relation to fatigue. A representative sample of the Norwegian population (N = 3,944) was invited to participate in a mailed survey, and 1,857 (47%) returned valid responses on the questionnaire that included the Fatigue Severity Scale and the Posttraumatic Symptom Scale-10. Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms showed a strong association with fatigue in univariate (β = .41) and multivariate analyses (β = .33). Associations between psychosocial health variables, QoL, and fatigue were confirmed. However, PTSD symptoms showed the strongest association with fatigue in the analyses. Findings need to be replicated in other population samples and in clinical samples with PTSD and fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Lovisenberg Deaconal University College and Oslo University Hospital, Lovisenberggt 15b, Oslo, Norway. anners.lerdal@ldh.no
authors.forename: Anners
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lerdal
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rokne
authors.forename: Øistein
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: Astrid K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Wahl
authors.forename: Alv A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Dahl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult