UNIQUE PATTERNS OF COMORBIDITY IN POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES OF TRAUMA

While there are many studies of comorbidity in combat veterans with po sttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), studies of PTSD from other sources of trauma (e.g., disasters, crimes, and civil violence) are just begi nning to emerge. This is the first formal review comparing patterns of comorbidity in PTSD from different sources of trauma. Specific attent ion is given to the relative frequencies of substance abuse, depressio n, generalized anxiety, phobic, panic, somatization, psychotic. and pe rsonality disorders. The findings reveal that although similarities ex ist, the comorbidity profiles differ according to the type of trauma e xperienced and the population studied. Additionally, the evidence sugg ests that the associated psychiatric disorders are not truly comorbid, but are interwoven with the PTSD. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company.