Early predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder.

The benefits of providing early intervention for people recently exposed to trauma have highlighted the need to develop means to identify people who will develop chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This review provides an overview of prospective studies that have indexed the acute reactions to trauma that are predictive of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. Ten studies of the predictive power of the acute stress disorder diagnosis indicate that this diagnosis does not have adequate predictive power. There is no convergence across studies on any constellation of acute symptoms that predict posttraumatic stress disorder. A review of biological and cognitive mechanisms occurring in the acute posttraumatic phase suggests that these factors may provide more accurate means of predicting chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. Recommendations for future research to facilitate identification of key markers of acutely traumatized people who will develop posttraumatic stress disorder are discussed.     

Posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder in adolescent bipolar disorder

Objective: Anxiety disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUD) are increasingly recognized as comorbid disorders in children with bipolar disorder (BPD). This study explores the relationship between BPD, PTSD, and SUD in a cohort of BPD and non‐BPD adolescents. Methods: We studied 105 adolescents with BPD and 98 non‐mood‐disordered adolescent controls. Psychiatric assessments were made using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia–Epidemiologic Version (KSADS‐E), or Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV (SCID) if 18 years or older. SUD was assessed by KSADS Substance Use module for subjects under 18 years, or SCID module for SUD if age 18 or older. Results: Nine (8%) BPD subjects endorsed PTSD and nine (8%) BPD subjects endorsed subthreshold PTSD compared to one (1%) control subject endorsing full PTSD and two (2%) controls endorsing subthreshold PTSD. Within BPD subjects endorsing PTSD, seven (39%) met criteria for SUD. Significantly more SUD was reported with full PTSD than with subthreshold PTSD (χ² = 5.58, p = 0.02) or no PTSD (χ² = 6.45, p = 0.01). Within SUD, the order of onset was BPD, PTSD, and SUD in three cases, while in two cases the order was PTSD, BPD, SUD. The remaining two cases experienced coincident onset of BPD and SUD, which then led to trauma, after which they developed PTSD and worsening SUD. Conclusion: An increased rate of PTSD was found in adolescents with BPD. Subjects with both PTSD and BPD developed significantly more subsequent SUD, with BPD, PTSD, then SUD being the most common order of onset. Follow‐up studies need to be conducted to elucidate the course and causal relationship of BPD, PTSD and SUD.     

War exposure,posttraumatic stress disorder,and complex posttraumatic stress disorder among parents living in Ukraine during the Russian war

Background

High rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been documented in war-affected populations. The prevalence of Complex PTSD (CPTSD) has never been assessed in an active war zone. Here, we provide initial data on war-related experiences, and prevalence rates of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD in a large sample of adults in Ukraine during the Russian war. We also examined how war-related stressors, PTSD, and CPTSD were associated with age, sex, and living location in Ukraine.

Method

Self-report data were gathered from a nationwide sample of 2004 adult parents of children under 18 from the general population of Ukraine approximately 6 months after Russia's invasion.

Results

All participants were exposed to at least one war-related stressor, and the mean number of exposures was 9.07 (range = 1–26). Additionally, 25.9% (95% CI = 23.9%, 27.8%) met diagnostic requirements for PTSD and 14.6% (95% CI = 12.9%, 16.0%) met requirements for CPTSD. There was evidence of a strong dose–response relationship between war-related stressors and meeting criteria for PTSD and CPTSD. Participants who had the highest exposure to war-related stressors were significantly more likely to meet the requirements for PTSD (OR = 4.20; 95% CI = 2.96–5.95) and CPTSD (OR = 8.12; 95% CI = 5.11–12.91) compared to the least exposed.

Conclusions

Humanitarian responses to the mental health needs of the Ukrainian population will need to take account of posttraumatic stress reactions. Education in diagnosing and treating PTSD/CPTSD, especially in the situation of a significant lack of human resources and continuing displacement of the population, is necessary.     

Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder

Prior research has indicated a seemingly unique relation between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that appears to relate to negative treatment outcome for OCD. However, to date, the prevalence of trauma and PTSD in individuals seeking treatment for OCD is unclear. To begin to address this gap, this study assessed history of traumatic experiences and current PTSD in individuals seeking treatment for treatment-resistant OCD. Trauma predictors of PTSD severity also were examined in this sample. Participants included 104 individuals diagnosed with treatment-resistant OCD who sought treatment over the course of 1 year from OCD specialty treatment facilities. Data were collected via naturalistic retrospective chart reviews of pre-treatment clinical intake files. Findings revealed that 82% of participants reported a history of trauma. Over 39% of the overall sample met criteria for PTSD, whereas almost 50% of individuals with a trauma history met criteria for PTSD. Interpersonal traumas and greater frequency of traumas were most predictive of PTSD severity, and individuals diagnosed with OCD and additional major depressive disorder (MDD) or borderline personality disorder (BPD) appeared at particular risk for a comorbid PTSD diagnosis. PTSD may be relatively common in individuals diagnosed with treatment-resistant OCD; and interpersonal traumas, MDD, and BPD may play a relatively strong predictive role in PTSD diagnosis and severity in such OCD patients.     

Post-traumatic stress symptoms and trauma exposure in youth with first episode bipolar disorder

Aims: To examine the prevalence of trauma exposure as well as the rates and effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adolescents with bipolar disorder following a first manic episode. Methods: Adolescents (12–18 years) with DSM-IV bipolar I disorder and experiencing their first manic or mixed episode were recruited. Participants underwent structured diagnostic interviews, completed the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC), and were prospectively evaluated using diagnostic, symptomatic and functional assessments over the course of 12 months. Results: Seventy-six adolescents (14.9 ± 1.7 years) completed the TSCC and 66% (50 individuals) reported exposure to traumatic events. Two (3%) subjects met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, 11 (14%) had post-traumatic stress t-scores ≥65, the threshold for clinically significant symptoms. Subjects with and without post-traumatic stress t-scores ≥65 did not differ in demographic characteristics. When compared by t-score, TSCC subscores of the first episode bipolar adolescents were similar to normative data. Regression models incorporating TSCC subcomponents, did not predict syndromic recovery or recurrence or symptomatic recovery. Conclusions: Rates of PTSD were lower in this sample of bipolar adolescents at the time of their first hospitalization compared with rates in samples of bipolar adults. These differences coupled with the low incidence of PTSD and trauma symptoms in this young sample suggests that bipolar disorder may be a risk factor for the development of PTSD later in the course of illness or following recurrent affective episodes.     

Gene-environment interaction in posttraumatic stress disorder

The purpose of this article is to encourage research investigating the role of measured gene-environment interaction (G × E) in the etiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is uniquely suited to the study of G × E as the diagnosis requires exposure to a potentially-traumatic life event. PTSD is also moderately heritable; however, the role of genetic factors in PTSD etiology has been largely neglected both by trauma researchers and psychiatric geneticists. First, we summarize evidence for genetic influences on PTSD from family, twin, and molecular genetic studies. Second, we discuss the key challenges in G × E studies of PTSD and offer practical strategies for addressing these challenges and for discovering replicable G × E for PTSD. Finally, we propose some promising new directions for PTSD G × E research. We suggest that G × E research in PTSD is essential to understanding vulnerability and resilience following exposure to a traumatic event. Dr. Koenen is supported in part by US-NIMH K08 MH070627. Ananda Amstadter is supported by US-NIAAA T32 AA007474. Nicole Nugent is supported by US-NIMH T32 MH18869.     

Early prognostic screening for posttraumatic stress disorder with the Davidson Trauma Scale and the SPAN

Background: This study examined the accuracy of the 17‐item Dutch version of the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS) and the four‐item SPAN (Startle, Physiological Arousal, Anger and Numbness) to detect survivors at risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) within the first 2 weeks after the trauma. Methods: 203 civilian survivors of recent trauma with relatively mild symptoms completed the DTS a mean of 8.7 days after experiencing trauma. SPAN scores were computed from the DTS. At a mean of 64.6 days posttrauma, 160 respondents were assessed for diagnosis of PTSD with the Structured Interview for PTSD. Results: Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the DTS showed good overall screening accuracy (84%). At a cut‐off value of 64, the DTS demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.86, a specificity of 0.70, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.12, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.98. Overall accuracy of the SPAN was good (89%). At a cut‐off of 10 the SPAN showed a sensitivity of 0.86, a specificity of 0.86, a PPV of 0.22, and a NPV of 0.98. The low PPVs were possibly due to the low of prevalence of PTSD in our sample (4.4%). Conclusions: This study shows that both the DTS and the SPAN are comparably accurate in screening early trauma survivors at risk for developing PTSD. The very brief four‐item SPAN may be preferred over the longer 17‐item DTS especially in settings in which time and resources are limited. Future studies should aim to cross‐validate these results in random samples. Depression and Anxiety, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

延时暴露疗法治疗创伤后应激障碍临床研究

目的：了解延时暴露疗法对创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）患者症状的疗效。方法：使用创伤后应激障碍自评量表（PTSD-SS）、抑郁自评量表（SDS）、焦虑自评量表（SAS）对高中生进行测评,采用延时暴露疗法对21名PTSD患者进行了治疗。结果：地震后1年高中生PTSD患病率为6.65%,女性高于男性,延时暴露治疗后症状明显改善。结论：延时暴露疗法对地震后高中生PTSD治疗有效,在以后的心理干预中应注意关注PTSD患者的恐惧和回避症状。     

Smaller hippocampal volume in patients with recent-onset posttraumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND: Previous structural magnetic resonance (MR) research in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has found smaller hippocampal volumes in patients compared with control subjects. These studies have mostly involved subjects who have had PTSD for a number of years, such as war veterans or adult survivors of childhood abuse. Patients with recent-onset PTSD have rarely been investigated. To our knowledge only one other study has investigated such a group. The aim of this study was to compare hippocampal volumes of patients with recent onset PTSD and nontrauma-exposed control subjects. METHODS: Fifteen patients with PTSD, recruited from an accident and emergency department, were compared with 11, non-trauma-exposed, healthy control subjects. Patients underwent a structural MR scan soon after trauma (mean time = 158 +/- 41 days). Entire brain volumes, voxel size 1 x 1 x 1 mm, were acquired for each subject. Point counting and stereology were used to measure the hippocampal and amygdala volume of each subject. RESULTS: Right-sided hippocampal volume was significantly smaller in PTSD patients than control subjects after controlling for effects of whole brain volume and age. Neither left nor total hippocampal volume were significantly smaller in the PTSD group after correction. Whole brain volume was also found to be significantly smaller in patients. There were no differences in amygdala or white matter volumes between patients and control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: This result replicates previous findings of smaller hippocampal volumes in PTSD patients, but in an underinvestigated population, suggesting that either smaller hippocampal volume is a predisposing factor in the development of PTSD or that damage occurs within months of trauma, rather than a number of years. Either of these two hypotheses have significant implications for the treatment of PTSD. For instance, if it could be shown that screening for hippocampal volume may, in some cases, predict those likely to develop clinical PTSD.     

Resilience: research evidence and conceptual considerations for posttraumatic stress disorder

The growing recognition and occurrence of traumatic exposure in the general population has given increased salience to the need to understand the concept of resilience. More than just the "flip side" of a risk factor, the notion of resilience encompasses psychological and biological characteristics, intrinsic to an individual, that might be modifiable and that confer protection against the development of psychopathology in the face of stress. In this review, we provide some perspective on the concept of "resilience" by examining early use of the term in research on "children at risk" and discuss the relationship between risk and resilience factors. We then review psychological and biological factors that may confer resilience to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following trauma, examine how resilience has been assessed and measured, and discuss issues to be addressed in furthering our understanding of this critical concept going forward.     

Health care utilization and costs among privately insured patients with bipolar I disorder

Objective:  This study examined health care resource utilization and direct health care costs among patients diagnosed with bipolar I disorder in a privately insured population.
Methods:  Health care claims data for 2883 patients with a primary diagnosis of bipolar disorder were compared over a 1-year period (1997) with claims data for 2883 randomly selected, age- and sex-matched, non-bipolar patients, all covered under the same large private insurer in USA. Resource use (i.e. original and refill pharmaceutical dispensing, medical and procedural services received, inpatient hospitalization, outpatient services, physician visits and emergency room treatment) and their costs are described overall, as well as by bipolar disorder diagnosis (based on ICD-9 codes) and type of care (i.e. mental health versus non-mental health).
Results:  Bipolar patients utilized nearly three to four times the health care resources and incurred over four times greater costs per patient compared with the non-bipolar group during the 1-year period ($7663 versus $1962). Inpatient care (hospitalizations) accounted for the greatest disparity between groups, as it was the single-most costly resource in the bipolar group ($2779 versus $398). Patients with bipolar depression (among the single bipolar diagnostic categories of mixed , manic or depressed ) incurred the highest health care costs. While mental health care cost was a significant component of total cost in the bipolar group, it accounted for only 22% of the total per-patient cost; in comparison, it accounted for only 6% of the total per-patient cost in the non-bipolar group.
Conclusion:  Treatment of bipolar disorder, particularly inpatient care, is costly to patients and health insurers. Further study is needed to find ways to reduce the overall cost of managing these patients without jeopardizing patient care.     

Pathways to care for patients with bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a chronic, debilitating psychiatric illness with serious ramifications for patients, their families, and society. Despite the availability of effective treatments, this disease often goes untreated due to medical, financial, legal/governmental, and cultural barriers. In this review we explore possible reasons for this problem. Misdiagnosis of bipolar disorders is a common medical barrier. One pathway to care for individuals with bipolar disorder is through referral from primary care, but primary care physicians generally have not received special training in the recognition and management of bipolar disorder. This often leads to diagnostic delays or errors, which prevents timely 'filtering' of patients into specialized care. Using data bases we explored these pathways. Legislation in the USA, such as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), designed to ensure access to inpatient mental health care, has instead given hospitals financial incentives to limit inpatient mental health care capacities. Reimbursement of mental health care expenses is a significant issue impacting a patient's ability to gain access to care, as bipolar disorder is a costly disease to treat. Improving access to care among the bipolar community will require multilateral strategies to influence the actions and attitudes of patients, communities, providers, health care systems, and state/national governments. In other cultures, barriers to care differ according to a number of factors such as type of services, explanatory models of illness, misdiagnosis and perceptions of care givers. It is essential that clinicians are aware of pathways and barriers so that appropriate and accessible care can be provided.     

Basal and dexamethasone suppressed salivary cortisol concentrations in a community sample of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder

Background

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with lower concentrations of cortisol and enhanced suppression of cortisol by dexamethasone, although discrepancies exist among reports. The objective of the study was to determine the pattern of cortisol responses in patients seeking treatment for PTSD resulting from a variety of traumatic experiences and to test whether cortisol responses are significantly related to childhood trauma, severity of symptoms, or length of time since trauma.

Methods

Salivary cortisol was measured at 8 am, 4 pm, and 10 pm on 2 consecutive days before and after a 10 pm dose of .5 mg dexamethasone in 17 psychotropic medication and substance-free subjects with PTSD and 17 matched control subjects.

Results

Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the baseline salivary cortisol concentrations demonstrated a significant effect for group with higher concentrations in the PTSD group but no significant differences in responses to dexamethasone. The presence of childhood abuse did not significantly affect salivary cortisol concentrations, and there was no correlation between predexamethasone cortisol and either the severity of PTSD symptoms or the time since the index trauma.

Conclusions

Neither low basal concentrations nor enhanced suppression of cortisol are consistent markers of a PTSD diagnosis.     

Broad spectrum of cytokine abnormalities in panic disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder

Background: Proinflammatory cytokines have been reported to be elevated in individuals experiencing chronic stress as well as in those with major depressive disorder. Much less is known about cytokines in anxiety disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and panic disorder (PD). We hypothesized that PD and PTSD would be associated with a generalized proinflammatory cytokine signature. Method: We utilized Luminex technology to examine 20 cytokines and chemokines in serum from 48 well‐characterized individuals with a primary DSM‐IV PD or PTSD diagnosis, and 48 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls. We conservatively employed a Bonferroni correction for multiple testing (α=.05/20=.0025). Results: Individuals with primary PTSD or PD had significantly elevated median peripheral cytokine levels for 18 of 20 different cytokines compared to age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls (all P<.0025). To assess for the presence of a generalized proinflammatory state, we also examined the proportion of subjects with detectable levels of at least six of nine common proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (IL‐6, IL‐1α, IL‐1β, IL‐8, MCP‐1, MIP‐1α, Eotaxin, GM‐CSF, and IFN‐α). For men and women, 87% of anxiety patients had six or more detectable levels of these proinflammatory cytokines, compared with only 25% of controls (Fisher's Exact Test (FET) P=.000). Confirmatory analysis of the subset of individuals without current psychiatric medication use or comorbid depression was of comparable significance. Conclusions: These findings suggest that a generalized inflammatory state may be present in individuals with PD or PTSD. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Post-traumatic stress disorder among adolescents with bipolar disorder and its relationship to suicidality

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this cross-sectional pilot study were to ascertain the rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among adolescents with bipolar disorder (BPD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) relative to a comparison group comprised of non-affectively ill patients, and to determine whether PTSD is related to suicidal ideation and attempts. The impetus for the study was born of clinical impressions derived in the course of routine clinical practice. METHODS: Patients were screened by a single interviewer for BPD, MDD and PTSD, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and social phobia using the apposite modules from the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) and histories of suicidal ideation and attempts. The data were subjected to analysis using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: The database included 34 patients with BPD, 79 with MDD and 26 with a non-affective disorder. The risk for PTSD for a patient with BPD significantly exceeded that for a patient with MDD [odds ratio (OR) = 4.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.9-12.2, p = 0.001]. Patients with PTSD had an insignificantly increased risk for suicidal ideation (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 0.9-8.9, p = 0.069), and a 4.5-fold significantly increased risk of having had a suicide attempt (OR = 4.5, 95% CI = 1.7-11.7, p = 0.002). The relationship between PTSD and suicide attempts remained significant even after controlling for the confounding effects of concurrent panic disorder, OCD and social phobia (OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.1-10.0, p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BPD have a greater risk for PTSD than those with MDD. Post-traumatic stress disorder is significantly related to history of suicide attempts.     

认知暴露疗法治疗创伤后应激障碍的5年随访

目的:探讨5年随访时认知暴露治疗对创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)患者的效果. 方法:63例PTSD患者随机分为两组,分别进行药物治疗和心理治疗,并且在治疗前、治疗后、治疗后3个月、治疗后5年进行心理状况评定. 结果:重复测量的方差分析表明,在创伤后应激障碍症状清单量表(PCLS)、症状自评量表、贝克抑郁问卷、汉米尔顿抑郁量表、状态-特质焦虑问卷及汉米尔顿焦虑量表上,总体上组间(药物和心理治疗)效应不显著(F=3.111,P＞0.05),时间(重复变量)效应显著(F=9.011,P＜0.01).治疗后心理治疗组PCLS再经历和回避分比药物治疗组下降更显著. 结论:认知暴露治疗和药物治疗对PTSD患者疗效相近,认知暴露治疗对再经历症状和回避症状疗效更好.