Citation

Norman SB, Trim RS, Goldsmith AA, Dimsdale JE, Hoyt DB, Norman GJ, Stein MB. J. Trauma. Stress 2011; 24(4): 390-398.

Affiliation

University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA. snorman@ucsd.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jts.20669

PMID

21834085

Abstract

Questions exist regarding whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are unique sequelae of trauma or a manifestation of a single form of psychopathology. Using latent growth modeling, we examined the role of risk factors occurring within 48 hours of the time of trauma on the course of PTSD and MDD symptoms over an 8-month period in 163 participants recruited from a level 1 surgical trauma center. Both PTSD and MDD symptoms showed peak prevalence by 1 month and significantly decreased over 7 months. Greater postinjury pain and PTSD symptoms (measured within 48 hours of trauma) predicted higher rates of both PTSD and MDD symptoms at 1 month. Other predictors were unique to each disorder.

RESULTS suggest that PTSD and MDD are related consequences of trauma.

Copyright © 2011 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Language: en