Leigh A Neal1, Gillian Green, Mark A Turner. 1. Defence Medical Services Psychological Injuries Unit, Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, UK. info@mhra-uk.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic stress is thought to account for significant disability. It is also known to be highly comorbid with other psychiatric conditions such as depression and alcohol dependence. AIMS: To determine the relationship between post-traumatic stress, depression, alcohol dependence and disability. METHOD: Seventy armed services personnel were assessed for DSM-IV diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence, and with continuous measures of symptoms of post-traumatic stress, depression and alcohol dependence following a traumatic event. These variables, as predictors of disability (using the Sheehan Disability Scale), were analysed using multivariate analysis of variance, analysis of covariance and multiple regression backward elimination models. RESULTS: No significant interaction was found for the diagnostic variables even after controlling for the continuous symptom measures. In the regression models, symptoms of depression were a significant predictor of total disability (R(2)=0.39). Symptoms of alcohol dependence and post-traumatic stress did not significantly predict disability. CONCLUSIONS: Since post-traumatic stress was not found to be associated with disability, its clinical importance may be questionable.
BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic stress is thought to account for significant disability. It is also known to be highly comorbid with other psychiatric conditions such as depression and alcohol dependence. AIMS: To determine the relationship between post-traumatic stress, depression, alcohol dependence and disability. METHOD: Seventy armed services personnel were assessed for DSM-IV diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence, and with continuous measures of symptoms of post-traumatic stress, depression and alcohol dependence following a traumatic event. These variables, as predictors of disability (using the Sheehan Disability Scale), were analysed using multivariate analysis of variance, analysis of covariance and multiple regression backward elimination models. RESULTS: No significant interaction was found for the diagnostic variables even after controlling for the continuous symptom measures. In the regression models, symptoms of depression were a significant predictor of total disability (R(2)=0.39). Symptoms of alcohol dependence and post-traumatic stress did not significantly predict disability. CONCLUSIONS: Since post-traumatic stress was not found to be associated with disability, its clinical importance may be questionable.
Authors: Andrea S Fokkens; Johan W Groothoff; Jac J L van der Klink; Roel Popping; Roy E Stewart; Lex van de Ven; Sandra Brouwer; Jolanda Tuinstra Journal: J Occup Rehabil Date: 2015-09