Gender differences in psychiatric and medical comorbidity with post-traumatic stress disorder

• Published in: Comprehensive psychiatry 2018-07, Vol.84, p.75-81
• Main Authors: Husky, Mathilde M., Mazure, Carolyn M., Kovess-Masfety, Viviane
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety Disorders - diagnosis; Anxiety Disorders - epidemiology; Anxiety Disorders - psychology; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - epidemiology; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Female; France - epidemiology; Gender; Gender differences; Humans; Male; Mental disorders; Middle Aged; Post traumatic stress disorder; Prevalence; Sex Characteristics; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Substance-Related Disorders - diagnosis; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0010-440X; 1532-8384
• DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.04.007

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with significant personal and societal burden. The present study examines the gender-specific differences in this burden in terms of the co-occurrence of psychiatric disorders and medical conditions with PTSD in the general population of France. The study is based on a cross-sectional general population survey of 21,879 adults. Trained interviewers used a computer-assisted telephone interviewing system to administer the Composite International Diagnostic Interview-Short Form to screen for psychiatric disorders and medical conditions in the previous 12 months. One third of those with moderately severe PTSD (35.3%) and half of those with severe PTSD (54.2%) suffered from comorbid depression. The prevalence of anxiety disorders and substance use disorders was also greater among severe cases of PTSD. Chronic back or neck problems, frequent or severe headaches, arthritis or rheumatism and hypertension were highly prevalent among adults with PTSD. Adjusting for gender, age, education, employment and marital status, moderately severe and severe PTSD diagnoses were associated with significantly greater odds of comorbid psychiatric disorders and medical conditions. With few exceptions, the pattern of gender differences in psychiatric and medical morbidity among those with moderate or severe PTSD were similar to differences observed among those without PTSD. The findings highlight the burden of co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions among PTSD sufferers in France and suggest the need for careful consideration of comorbidity in the assessment and service planning for PTSD. •Moderate and severe PTSD are strongly associated with psychiatric and medical comorbidities•There are gender-specific associations between PTSD and specific psychiatric and medical comorbidities•With few exceptions, gender differences in psychiatric and medical morbidity are similar among those with or without PTSD