Posttraumatic stress disorder׳s dysphoria dimension and relations with generalized anxiety disorder symptoms

• Two four-factor PTSD models and a one-factor GAD model were proposed.
• PTSD׳s dysphoria factor was more related to the GAD factor than other PTSD factors.
• The study utilized a large trauma-exposed veteran sample.
• The GAD factor was more correlated with the dysphoria factor than other PTSD factors.

The present study investigated symptom relations between two highly comorbid disorders – posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) – by exploring their underlying dimensions. Based on theory and prior empirical research it was expected that the dysphoria factor of PTSD would be more highly related to GAD. As part of a longitudinal project of mental health among Ohio National Guard Soldiers, 1266 subjects were administered the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale (GAD-7). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were conducted to examine two models of PTSD and to determine which PTSD factors were more related to the GAD factor. The results indicate that the GAD factor was significantly more highly correlated with PTSD׳s dysphoria factor than with all other PTSD factors, including PTSD׳s reexperiencing factor, avoidance factor, and hyperarousal factor. Results indicate GAD was not significantly more highly correlated with numbing than most other factors of PTSD. The results are consistent with prior research. Implications of the results are discussed in regards to PTSD in DSM-5, comorbidity and diagnostic specificity.