Relations between the underlying dimensions of PTSD and major depression using an epidemiological survey of deployed Ohio National Guard soldiers. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: In the present study, the authors investigated the relationship between the underlying symptom dimensions of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dimensions of major depressive disorder (MDD). METHOD: A sample of 1266 Ohio National Guard soldiers with a history of overseas deployment participated and were administered the PTSD Checklist (assessing PTSD) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (assessing depression). RESULTS: Using confirmatory factor analysis, results demonstrated that both PTSD's dysphoria and hyperarousal factors were more related to depression's somatic than non-somatic factor. Furthermore, depression's somatic factor was more related to PTSD's dysphoria than hyperarousal factor. LIMITATIONS: Limitations of this study include the use of self-report measures and a predominately male military sample. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that PTSD's dysphoria factor is related to depression specifically by way of depression's somatic construct. Given PTSD's substantial dysphoria/distress component, these results have implications for understanding the nature of PTSD's high comorbidity with depression.

published proceedings

  • J Affect Disord

author list (cited authors)

  • Biehn, T. L., Contractor, A., Elhai, J. D., Tamburrino, M., Fine, T. H., Prescott, M. R., ... Galea, S.

citation count

  • 40

complete list of authors

  • Biehn, Tracey L||Contractor, Ateka||Elhai, Jon D||Tamburrino, Marijo||Fine, Thomas H||Prescott, Marta R||Shirley, Edwin||Chan, Philip K||Slembarski, Renee||Liberzon, Israel||Calabrese, Joseph R||Galea, Sandro

publication date

  • January 2013