title: PTSD symptoms in a cohort of National Guard soldiers deployed to Iraq: evidence for nonspecific and specific components.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is evidence that some of the symptoms included under the current diagnostic criteria for PTSD are not unique to PTSD and instead represent general distress. This study attempted to delineate the nonspecific and specific components of PTSD by examining the relation of PTSD symptoms to trauma exposure and demoralization in a cohort of National Guard soldiers deployed to Iraq.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from a cohort of 348 combat deployed National Guard soldiers participating in the readiness and resilience in National Guard soldiers (RINGS) study. Current DSM-IV PTSD diagnoses and trauma exposure were determined 6 to 12 months following soldiers' return from deployment using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale. Level of trauma exposure (as measured by a combat exposure scale), demoralization and self-reported PTSD symptoms were assessed with self-report questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dysphoria symptoms had the weakest relation with trauma exposure and the strongest relation with demoralization. In addition, these symptoms had high rates of endorsement in a group of soldiers without trauma exposure. Intrusions were strongly related to trauma and were significantly higher in the group with trauma exposure compared to the no-trauma group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings may not generalize to survivors of other types of trauma, service members from other era's, or even service members from different regions or military branches who have different demographic and duty characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Emphasizing symptoms of PTSD that are strongly related to trauma exposure will be important for the differential diagnosis of PTSD.
authors: Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA. christopher.erbes@va.gov
authors: Christopher R
authors: CR
authors: Erbes
authors: Melissa A
authors: MA
authors: Polusny
authors: Paul A
authors: PA
authors: Arbisi
authors: Erin
authors: E
authors: Koffel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology