Comorbidity of 9/11‐Related PTSD and Depression in the World Trade Center Health Registry 10–11 Years Postdisaster. Issue 6 (2nd December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caramanica, Kimberly; Brackbill, Robert M.; Liao, Tim; Stellman, Steven D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of traumatic stress. Volume 27:Issue 6(2014)
• Page Start: 680
• Page End: 688
• Publication Date: 2014-12-02
• Subjects: Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Periodicals; 616.8521
• DOI: 10.1002/jts.21972
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-9867

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Many studies report elevated prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among persons exposed to the September 11, 2001 (9/11) disaster compared to those unexposed; few have evaluated long‐term PTSD with comorbid depression. We examined prevalence and risk factors for probable PTSD, probable depression, and both conditions 10–11 years post‐9/11 among 29, 486 World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees who completed surveys at Wave 1 (2003–2004), Wave 2 (2006–2007), and Wave 3 (2011–2012). Enrollees reporting physician diagnosed pre‐9/11 PTSD or depression were excluded. PTSD was defined as scoring ≥ 44 on the PTSD Checklist and depression as scoring ≥ 10 on the 8‐item Patient Health Questionnaire. We examined 4 groups: comorbid PTSD and depression, PTSD only, depression only, and neither. Among enrollees, 15.2% reported symptoms indicative of PTSD at Wave 3, 14.9% of depression, and 10.1% of both. Comorbid PTSD and depression was associated with high 9/11 exposures, low social integration, health‐related unemployment, and experiencing ≥ 1 traumatic life event post‐9/11. Comorbid persons experienced poorer outcomes on all PTSD‐related impairment measures, life satisfaction, overall health, and unmet mental health care need compared to those with only a single condition. These findings highlight the importance of ongoing screening and treatment for both conditions, particularly among those at risk for mental health comorbidity.</p> </abstract>