ابعاد بی قراری اختلال استرس پس از سانحه و روابط با علائم اختلال اضطراب فراگیر

The present study investigated symptom relations between two highly comorbid disorders – posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) – by exploring their underlying dimensions. Based on theory and prior empirical research it was expected that the dysphoria factor of PTSD would be more highly related to GAD. As part of a longitudinal project of mental health among Ohio National Guard Soldiers, 1266 subjects were administered the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were conducted to examine two models of PTSD and to determine which PTSD factors were more related to the GAD factor. The results indicate that the GAD factor was significantly more highly correlated with PTSD׳s dysphoria factor than with all other PTSD factors, including PTSD׳s reexperiencing factor, avoidance factor, and hyperarousal factor. Results indicate GAD was not significantly more highly correlated with numbing than most other factors of PTSD. The results are consistent with prior research. Implications of the results are discussed in regards to PTSD in DSM-5, comorbidity and diagnostic specificity.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often co-occurs with other psychopathology. According to a large-scale epidemiological study, 88% of individuals with PTSD report at least one other mental disorder (Kessler et al., 1995). PTSD is most comorbid with mood, anxiety and substance use disorders (Kessler et al., 1995). PTSD׳s comorbidity with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is as high as 15% and 17% in women and men, respectively. However, little is known about potential mechanisms that account for these comorbidity rates between PTSD and GAD. The present study explored this issue by analyzing the underlying dimensions of PTSD to assess for shared components between PTSD and GAD symptoms.