OBJECTIVES: Examine the longitudinal course of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in older adults and its influence on mental health quality of life (MHQoL). DESIGN: Evaluation performed at baseline, and 3 and 6 months postrandomization as part of a longitudinal trial. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS: A total of 1,185 participants, with a mean (±SD) age of 73.53 (±5.98) years, at seven primary care sites (including five Veterans Affairs clinics), were divided into four groups, namely, no trauma (n = 661), trauma only (n = 319), partial PTSD (n = 114), and PTSD (n = 81), based on reports of trauma and associated PTSD symptoms. MEASUREMENTS: The prevalence of comorbid depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders, assessed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, criteria and changes in MHQoL, as assessed by the Short Form-36 mental component score. RESULTS: At baseline, the PTSD group had higher frequencies of comorbid depression and anxiety disorders and worse MHQoL than the other groups. Both chronic (participants diagnosed with PTSD at all three assessments) and fluctuating (participants moving to or from one of the other groups) trajectories of course were observed during the follow-up period, which appeared to be separate from that of the comorbid disorders. Even after accounting for those comorbid disorders, PTSD had an independent association with poorer MHQoL at multiple time points, especially in men, whereas trauma without PTSD symptoms (trauma only) had better MHQoL. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD had chronic and fluctuating courses, with negative effects on MHQoL, while partial PTSD might represent a transitional state, underscoring the need to better identify and treat PTSD at any phase in later life.
OBJECTIVES: Examine the longitudinal course of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in older adults and its influence on mental health quality of life (MHQoL). DESIGN: Evaluation performed at baseline, and 3 and 6 months postrandomization as part of a longitudinal trial. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS: A total of 1,185 participants, with a mean (±SD) age of 73.53 (±5.98) years, at seven primary care sites (including five Veterans Affairs clinics), were divided into four groups, namely, no trauma (n = 661), trauma only (n = 319), partial PTSD (n = 114), and PTSD (n = 81), based on reports of trauma and associated PTSD symptoms. MEASUREMENTS: The prevalence of comorbid depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders, assessed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, criteria and changes in MHQoL, as assessed by the Short Form-36 mental component score. RESULTS: At baseline, the PTSD group had higher frequencies of comorbid depression and anxiety disorders and worse MHQoL than the other groups. Both chronic (participants diagnosed with PTSD at all three assessments) and fluctuating (participants moving to or from one of the other groups) trajectories of course were observed during the follow-up period, which appeared to be separate from that of the comorbid disorders. Even after accounting for those comorbid disorders, PTSD had an independent association with poorer MHQoL at multiple time points, especially in men, whereas trauma without PTSD symptoms (trauma only) had better MHQoL. CONCLUSIONS:PTSD had chronic and fluctuating courses, with negative effects on MHQoL, while partial PTSD might represent a transitional state, underscoring the need to better identify and treat PTSD at any phase in later life.
Authors: Timothy F Platts-Mills; Bo C Nebolisa; Sean A Flannigan; Natalie L Richmond; Robert M Domeier; Robert A Swor; Phyllis L Hendry; David A Peak; Niels K Rathlev; Jeffrey S Jones; David C Lee; Christopher W Jones; Samuel A McLean Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2017-04-04 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Jason D Flatt; Paola Gilsanz; Charles P Quesenberry; Kathleen B Albers; Rachel A Whitmer Journal: Alzheimers Dement Date: 2017-06-13 Impact factor: 21.566
Authors: Carolyn J Gibson; Alison J Huang; Brigid McCaw; Leslee L Subak; David H Thom; Stephen K Van Den Eeden Journal: JAMA Intern Med Date: 2019-01-01 Impact factor: 21.873
Authors: Scott D McDonald; Melody N Mickens; Lisa D Goldberg-Looney; Brian J Mutchler; Michael S Ellwood; Teodoro A Castillo Journal: J Spinal Cord Med Date: 2017-03-13 Impact factor: 1.985
Authors: Jack Goldberg; Kathryn M Magruder; Christopher W Forsberg; Matthew J Friedman; Brett T Litz; Viola Vaccarino; Patrick J Heagerty; Theresa C Gleason; Grant D Huang; Nicholas L Smith Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2015-05-16 Impact factor: 4.105
Authors: Ioana Pencea; Adam P Munoz; Jessica L Maples-Keller; Devika Fiorillo; Katharina Schultebraucks; Isaac Galatzer-Levy; Barbara O Rothbaum; Kerry J Ressler; Jennifer S Stevens; Vasiliki Michopoulos; Abigail Powers Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2019-12-14 Impact factor: 4.791