@article{ref1,
title="Longitudinal trajectories of comorbid PTSD and depression symptoms among U.S. service members and veterans",
journal="BMC psychiatry",
year="2019",
author="Armenta, Richard F. and Walter, Kristen H. and Geronimo-Hara, Toni Rose and Porter, Ben and Stander, Valerie A. and Leardmann, Cynthia A.",
volume="19",
number="1",
pages="e396-e396",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often co-occurs with other psychiatric disorders, particularly major depressive disorder (MDD). The current study examined longitudinal trajectories of PTSD and MDD symptoms among service members and veterans with comorbid PTSD/MDD. <br><br>METHODS: Eligible participants (n = 1704) for the Millennium Cohort Study included those who screened positive at baseline for both PTSD (PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version) and MDD (Patient Health Questionnaire). Between 2001 and 2016, participants completed a baseline assessment and up to 4 follow-up assessments approximately every 3 years. Mixture modeling simultaneously determined trajectories of comorbid PTSD and MDD symptoms. Multinomial regression determined factors associated with latent class membership. <br><br>RESULTS: Four distinct classes (chronic, relapse, gradual recovery, and rapid recovery) described symptom trajectories of PTSD/MDD. Membership in the chronic class was associated with older age, service branch, deployment with combat, anxiety, physical assault, disabling injury/illness, bodily pain, high levels of somatic symptoms, and less social support. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Comorbid PTSD/MDD symptoms tend to move in tandem, and, although the largest class remitted symptoms, almost 25% of participants reported chronic comorbid symptoms across all time points. <br><br>RESULTS highlight the need to assess comorbid conditions in the context of PTSD. Future research should further evaluate the chronicity of comorbid symptoms over time.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1471-244X",
doi="10.1186/s12888-019-2375-1",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2375-1"
}