POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER, DEPRESSION, ALCOHOL-USE DISORDERS AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN ADOLESCENTS

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent psychiatric disord er among adolescents. While the effects of PTSD on quality of life (QO L) have been systematically studied with adults, research on the conse quences of PTSD with adolescents has been limited. Among the other psy chiatric disorders often associated with PTSD, major depression and al cohol use disorders are prevalent and have their own substantial morbi dities. This study was designed to examine and compare the effects of PTSD, major depression, and alcohol rise disorders on quality of life during adolescence. The subjects were 540 adolescents (ages 12-18 year s old) recruited from clinical and community sources. Psychiatric diso rders characterizing the sample included one or more of the three diso rders studied (n = 275), other psychiatric disorders (n = 121), or no psychiatric disorders (n = 144). Analysis of covariance was utilized t o determine the individual main effects and relative effect sizes of t he three primary disorders on QOL variables. PTSD showed significant a dverse effects on psychological, physical, and social functioning. Maj or depression showed a similar pattern. In contrast, alcohol use disor ders primarily affected role functioning While PTSD, major depression, and alcohol use disorders all adversely influenced adolescent QOL, th e patterns of their effects differed. Remedial treatment interventions designed to restore QOL for adolescents with these disorders may need to focus on different areas for adolescents with PTSD or major depres sion than for adolescents with alcohol use disorders. (C) 1996 Wiley-L iss, Inc.