title: Is worst-event trauma type related to PTSD symptom presentation and associated features?
abstract: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is generally assessed with reference to a "worst-event" (index) trauma, though little research has examined whether symptom presentation and comorbidity differ across worst-events. Data from individuals meeting lifetime PTSD criteria in the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication (N=398) were used to examine relations between PTSD presentation and comorbidity with the three most commonly reported "worst-event" trauma types: sexual trauma, non-sexual physical violence, and unexpected death of a loved one. Sexual trauma and non-sexual physical violence were associated with more symptomatic presentation of PTSD and lifetime trauma types compared to other worst-events. Non-sexual physical violence was associated with comorbid substance use disorder, and unexpected death of a loved one was associated with comorbid depression. Inclusion of number of lifetime trauma types as a covariate rendered most, but not all associations non-significant. These findings suggest worst-event trauma type is related to some important differences in PTSD presentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Florida State University, P.O. Box 3064301, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
authors.forename: Hillary L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Florida State University, P.O. Box 3064301, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
authors.forename: Berta J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Florida State University, P.O. Box 3064301, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.
authors.forename: Kirsten H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Florida State University, P.O. Box 3064301, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. Electronic address: cougle@psy.fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Jesse R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cougle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000069586:Adult Survivors of Child Adverse Events / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D000066550:Physical Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Comorbidity; PTSD; Sexual assault; Trauma type