@article{ref1,
title="Major depressive and post-traumatic stress disorder comorbidity in female victims of intimate partner violence",
journal="Journal of affective disorders",
year="2001",
author="Stein, Murray B. and Kennedy, C.",
volume="66",
number="2-3",
pages="133-138",
abstract="BACKGROUND & METHODS: Victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) often develop psychiatric disorders. We examined the extent and correlates of comorbidity between two of the disorders most frequently linked to trauma--major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)--in a group of 44 women who were victims of IPV within the preceding 2 years. RESULTS: MDD (68.2%) and PTSD (50.0%) were highly prevalent on a lifetime basis in female victims of IPV. On a current basis, MDD (18.2%) and IPV-related PTSD (31.8%) were more frequently comorbid (42.9% of cases of current IPV-related PTSD also had MDD) than would be expected by chance (P<0.001). Most cases of current MDD occurred in persons who also had current IPV-related PTSD. Severity of depressive and PTSD symptoms were highly correlated (r=0.84). Although women with PTSD were significantly more disabled than women without PTSD, persons with comorbid PTSD and MDD were not significantly more disabled than those with PTSD alone. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional study; entry criteria for study may limit generalizability. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD and MDD symptoms are frequently seen in the aftermath of IPV, and often co-occur. The usefulness of the distinction between PTSD and MDD in this context remains to be determined, both in terms of diagnostic classification and prognostic implications.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0165-0327",
doi="10.1016/S0165-0327(00)00301-3",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0165-0327(00)00301-3"
}