Posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma exposure, and the current health of Canadian bus drivers

Objective: Previous studies of veterans have linked posttraumatic stress di sorder (PTSD) after combat-related trauma to increased reports of health pr oblems. It is unclear whether this association between PTSD and increased h ealth problems generalizes to civilians who are exposed to a broader array, of traumatic events. We also do not know whether trauma exposure is associ ated with increased health problems in individuals who do not develop PTSD. Using a non-treatment-seeking civilian sample, we examined whether lifetim e PTSD or trauma exposure by itself was associated with current health prob lems. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design and self-report measures, we evalua ted urban Canadian bus drivers (n = 342) on trauma exposure, lifetime PTSD, and current health problems. Based on their responses, we divided our samp le into individuals who had never experienced trauma (n = 91), trauma-expos ed individuals who had never developed PTSD (n = 218), and persons who deve loped PTSD at some point after trauma (n = 33). we compared these groups on health problems, treatment service use, and health assessment measures. Results: The PTSD group reported increased health complaints, move frequent use of health treatments, and poorer health self ratings compared with the exposed non-PTSD and non-exposed groups. Trauma-exposed drivers without PT SD did not differ from unexposed drivers or any health measure. Controlling for sex and trauma frequency did not alter our findings. Conclusions: Trauma exposure that leads to PTSD is associated with increase d health problems, while trauma exposure alone is riot. Our results extend previous findings to a broader civilian contest and clarify associations be tween trauma exposure and health.