Citation

Ferretti F, Pozza A, Bossini L, Desantis S, Olivola M, Del Matto L, Gualtieri G, Gusinu R, Bezzini D, Fagiolini A, Coluccia A. BMC Res. Notes 2019; 12(1): e747.

Affiliation

Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Viale Bracci 16, 53100, Siena, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s13104-019-4792-0

PMID

31730479

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and medical comorbidities is controversial since most studies focused on specific comorbidity and victim types. In Italy, data on this issue are scarce. A comprehensive evaluation of all the ICD medical categories co-occurring in PTSD may orient assessment and treatment during clinical and forensic practice. This is the first study evaluating all the ICD physical comorbidities and gender-related differences in Italian PTSD patients. Eighty-four PTSD patients (36 females, 48 males) were included. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and Davidson Trauma Scale were administered.

RESULTS: Most patients had a PTSD consequent to an accident and half of them presented extreme symptom severity. No gender differences emerged on symptom severity/duration and age at the event. Metabolic (39.29%), circulatory (20.24%) and musculoskeletal systems/connective tissue diseases (17.86%) were the most frequent comorbidities. Metabolic/circulatory diseases were more frequent among males (p = 0.019 and p = 0.027, respectively) while females more frequently showed neoplasms (p = 0.039). Physical comorbidities represent a serious complication in PTSD patients and are more prevalent than in the Italian population. While gender is not associated with symptom presentation, it seems to play a key role in specific comorbidities including metabolic, circulatory and neoplastic diseases.

Language: en

Keywords

Comorbidity; Diseases of the circulatory system; Gender differences; ICD; Medical conditions; Metabolic syndrome; Neoplasms; Post-traumatic stress disorder