Research paperHeterogeneity in patterns of DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms: Latent profile analyses

- Sample consisted of 268 trauma-exposed students who endorsed clinical levels of PTSD or depression severity.
- We found three discrete PTSD-depression typologies, including a PTSD-depression subtype.
- Latent typologies differed in dissociative experiences, and distress tolerance.
- Results provide support for a depressive subtype of PTSD especially at higher levels of PTSD severity.
- Results provide support for the distinctiveness of PTSD and depression especially at lower levels of PTSD severity.

BackgroundPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression co-occur frequently following the experience of potentially traumatizing events (PTE; Morina et al., 2013). A person-centered approach to discern heterogeneous patterns of such co-occurring symptoms is recommended (Galatzer-Levy and Bryant, 2013). We assessed heterogeneity in PTSD and depression symptomatology; and subsequently assessed relations between class membership with psychopathology constructs (alcohol use, distress tolerance, dissociative experiences).MethodsThe sample consisted of 268 university students who had experienced a PTE and susequently endorsed clinical levels of PTSD or depression severity. Latent profile analyses (LPA) was used to identify the best-fitting class solution accouring to recommended fit indices (Nylund et al., 2007a); and the effects of covariates was analyzed using a 3-step approach (Vermunt, 2010).ResultsResults of the LPA indicated an optimal 3-class solutions: high severity (Class 2), lower PTSD-higher depression (Class 1), and higher PTSD-lower depression (Class 3). Covariates of distress tolerance, and different kinds of dissociative experiences differentiated the latent classes.LimitationsUse of self-report measure could lead to response biases; and the specific nature of the sample limits generalizability of results.ConclusionWe found evidence for a depressive subtype of PTSD differentiated from other classes in terms of lower distress tolerance and greater dissociative experiences. Thus, transdiagnostic treatment protocols may be most beneficial for these latent class members. Further, the distinctiveness of PTSD and depression at comparatively lower levels of PTSD severity was supported (mainly in terms of distress tolerance abilities); hence supporting the current classification system placement of these disorders.