title: New DSM-5 maladaptive symptoms in PTSD: gender differences and correlations with mood spectrum symptoms in a sample of high school students following survival of an earthquake.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gender differences in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rates were confirmed across different DSM editions as well as the role of bipolar disorder (BD) comorbidity on prevalence and course, but little data is available upon new DSM-5 criteria, including maladaptive behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate gender differences in DSM-5 PTSD in a sample of young adult earthquake survivors and the impact of lifetime mood spectrum comorbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred twelve young adult survivors from the L'Aquila 2009 earthquake were evaluated by Trauma and Loss Spectrum-Self Report (TALS-SR) and Mood Spectrum-Self Report (MOODS-SR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Females showed significantly higher DSM-5 PTSD prevalence rates than men. Similarly, female survivors with DSM-5 PTSD showed significantly higher scores in several of the MOODS-SR and TALS-SR domains with respect to males. Males showed significantly higher scores in the TALS-SR maladaptive coping domain only. A significant positive association between the MOODS-SR manic-hypomanic component and TALS-SR potentially traumatic events and maladaptive coping domains emerged in the whole sample, particularly among men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study allows a first glimpse on gender differences in DSM-5 PTSD criteria in a sample of earthquake survivors. Further, possible correlations with subthreshold manic-hypomanic comorbidity are suggested among males, showing a significant trend particularly for lifetime trauma exposure and for the newly introduced maladaptive behaviors.
authors: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Carmassi
authors: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Stratta
authors: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Massimetti
authors: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Carlo Antonio
authors: CA
authors: Bertelloni
authors: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Ciro
authors: C
authors: Conversano
authors: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Ivan Mirko
authors: IM
authors: Cremone
authors: Unit of Hospital Hygiene and Epidemiology, Department of Traslational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Miccoli
authors: Unit of Hospital Hygiene and Epidemiology, Department of Traslational Research, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Baggiani
authors: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Rossi
authors: Section of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors: Liliana
authors: L
authors: Dell'Osso
keywords: Bipolar Disorder; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Risk-taking behaviors; Trauma; maladaptive behaviors