title: Potentially Traumatic Events, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Depression among Adults in Puerto Rico.
abstract: The aims of the current study were to examine the prevalence of potentially traumatic events (PTEs), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; data available in males only), and depressive symptoms in a Puerto Rican sample of 678 adult caretakers (50% female) of twins participating in the Puerto Rican Infant Twin Study. The World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 3.0 (CIDI 3.0) was utilized to assess rates of PTEs, PTSD, and depression among male participants while an abbreviated version of the CIDI 3.0 and the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire were administered to females to assess PTEs and depressive symptoms. Significantly more males than females reported exposure to a PTE (76.6% vs. 44.2%, χ(2) = 64.44, p < 0.001). In males, endorsement of multiple PTEs was associated with increased level of PTSD symptomatology (β = 0.33, p < 0.001). With regard to depression, a similar dose-response relationship was found in both males and females, with depressive symptoms increasing as number of PTEs increased (βs = 0.15, 0.16, ps < 0.05). Exposure to an attack with a weapon was significantly associated with increased depression symptoms in both males and females (βs = 0.24, 0.20, ps < 0.01, respectively). These findings highlight the need for identification of putative risk and resilience factors among PTE-exposed individuals in Puerto Rico.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA, USA.
authors.forename: Cassie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Overstreet
authors.affiliation: Developmental Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville VA, USA.
authors.forename: Erin C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Berenz
authors.affiliation: Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA, USA.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sheerin
authors.affiliation: Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA, USA.
authors.forename: Ananda B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Amstadter
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Sciences Research Institute, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan PR, USA.
authors.forename: Glorisa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canino
authors.affiliation: Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA, USA.
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silberg
keywords: Puerto Rico; depression; posttraumatic stress disorder; resilience; trauma