Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6232011 | Journal of Affective Disorders | 2015 | 6 Pages |
BackgroundPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are frequently comorbid. One explanation for this comorbidity is that PTSD has a constellation of “dysphoria” symptoms resembling depression.MethodUsing confirmatory factor analysis we tested the role of DSM-5 PTSD׳s dysphoria factor in relation to MDD symptom dimensions of somatic and non-somatic psychopathology. 672 Ohio National Guard soldiers completed DSM-5 measures of PTSD and MDD symptoms in an epidemiological study.ResultsResults indicated that in contrast to other PTSD factors, PTSD׳s dysphoria factor was more related to MDD׳s somatic and non-somatic factors.LimitationsLimitations include generalizability to the epidemiological population of trauma-exposed military veterans rather than civilians, and reliance on self-report measures.ConclusionsImplications concerning clinical psychopathology and comorbidity of PTSD are discussed, including whether PTSD should be refined by removing its non-specific symptoms.