The Physical Health Consequences of Ptsd and Ptsd Symptoms a Meta-analytic Review

The relation betwixt posttraumatic stress and physical wellness is a fascinating ane. On my 'talent hunt' at the ISTSS conference, I met Maria Pacella, who is currently completing her doctoral degree in Health Psychology at Kent State Academy, Ohio, United states. She examines the relation between traumatic stress and the development of mental and physical health problems in adults. Some fresh new findings below!

The following research describes a recent meta-analysis synthesizing the literature regarding PTSD/PTSD symptoms (PTSS) and comorbid physical health complaints. Related research conducted with samples of motor vehicle accident victims and people living with HIV is also discussed. For more than information virtually our ongoing research studies, delight see the Delahanty Stress and Health Lab website.

one. PTSD is associated with poor physical health

The relationship between PTSD and co-occurring mental health conditions — such as depression, substance utilize, and general feet — has received much attending in the literature. Nevertheless, it is equally important to consider the impact of PTSD on physical health operation. Given the biological alterations associated with PTSD, individuals with this disorder may be vulnerable to the development of, or worsening of, certain physical health weather condition. A better agreement of the physical health consequences of PTSD volition inform prevention and treatment practices, thereby reducing the economic brunt created past the disorder.

Recently, we conducted a meta-analysis on the results of 62 empirical articles examining the relationship between PTSD and 6 physical health outcomes. Results revealed that individuals with PTSD suffered from greater health complaints in the following domains:

Concrete health-related quality of life
General wellness symptoms
Medical weather condition
Cardio-respiratory health
Gastrointestinal health
Musculoskeletal wellness

Though all relationships were meaning, the largest effect size emerged for the health outcome of general health symptoms, and the smallest for the health outcome of cardio-respiratory symptoms.

2. The full disorder need non be present to experience the associated physical wellness consequences of PTSD symptoms.

We too plant that the presence of PTSD symptoms (PTSS; hyperarousal, avoidance and numbing, and re-experiencing) is sufficient to experience the concrete health consequences of trauma. More specifically, equally compared to individuals with lower levels of PTSS, those with college levels of PTSS also reported worse physical health complaints in all of the domains assessed.

Further, independent of the presence of PTSD, trauma history also impacts the experience of concrete health complaints. To this end, research from our lab has revealed that in a sample of motor vehicle accident (MVA) victims, individuals with a more severe trauma history experienced greater physical health complaints vi-months post-MVA than those with a less astringent trauma history.

In sum, these findings highlight the importance of assessing PTSS in individuals with a trauma history, as individuals with subthreshold PTSS endure from similar physical health consequences as those who run into criteria for full PTSD.

iii. Important moderating factors involved in the human relationship betwixt PTSD/PTSS and concrete wellness

Research regarding PTSD/PTSS and physical wellness has varied greatly with respect to participants examined and methodologies employed. Given this variation, we sought to examine whether stronger relationships emerged for studies with the inclusion of the post-obit characteristics (moderators) related to the sample or method:

Sample-blazon moderators:

Males vs. females
Veterans vs. civilians
Recruitment from customs vs. clinical centers

Methodological moderators:

Self-report vs. clinical interview
Continuous vs. dichotomous measurement of PTSD/PTSS)

Results regarding sample type revealed that the relationship between PTSD/PTSS and physical health may exist stronger for veterans, and for those individuals recruited from clinical centers. These findings advise that screening for PTSD in primary care and VA hospitals may allow for the identification of individuals most likely to do good from mental health treatment. Results also revealed that both males and females may have increased risk of physical health problems post-trauma. Therefore, the strength of relationship may depend on the health result beingness analyzed.

Regarding methodological characteristics, the effect sizes tended to be larger when PTSD/PTSS and health outcomes were measured via self-report as compared to interview methods. Further, stronger relationships emerged for the measurement of continuous PTSS versus the diagnostic disorder, suggesting that traumatic stress exposure may be more accurately represented on a continuum.

Though these moderation analyses were exploratory, they may aid in identifying specific groups that may respond best to effective prevention or handling practices (Pacella et al. in printing).

four) Where practice we go from here? Suggestions for future research

A. Prospective, longitudinal designs.

Most studies included in this meta-analysis were cross-exclusive in design, such that causality cannot exist inferred. In order to conclude that PTSD/PTSS crusade concrete health complications, there is a demand to examine the evolution of physical wellness complaints in recent trauma victims (i.e., prospective longitudinal designs).

B. Consideration of additional moderating factors.

Several factors related to PTSD and physical health that roughshod outside the telescopic of this review (such as age, race, income, elapsed time since trauma, and trauma blazon) may as well serve equally potential moderators of this human relationship, and may aid in targeting individuals well-nigh likely to benefit from mental wellness handling.

C. Treatment Implications.

Preliminary prove suggests that individuals who have received successful treatment for PTSD may also experience indirect benefits in their physical health functioning. Boosted research is necessary to replicate these findings, and to determine whether early PTSD intervention may preclude the development of subsequent physical health problems.

Finally, medically related PTSD (defined as PTSD stemming from the diagnosis of a life-threatening/chronic medical condition) might identify individuals at a greater hazard of either ane) developing physical health problems, or ii) experiencing a worsening of physical health symptoms. Given our recent findings that prolonged exposure treatment for PTSD was successful in a sample of people living with HIV, individuals with HIV and other life threatening/chronic diseases (such as cancer, myocardial infarction) may also brandish improvements in physical wellness following successful mental health treatment; however this has yet to be examined.

Useful Websites and main reference:

Usa National Center for PTSD: PTSD & Physical Health

American Psychosomatic Society: Educational Resource

NIH: Behavioral Interventions in Primary Care

Pacella, Thou., Hruska, B., & Delahanty, D. (2012). The concrete health consequences of PTSD and PTSD symptoms: A meta-analytic review Periodical of Anxiety Disorders DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2012.08.004

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Source: https://trauma-recovery.net/2012/12/10/the-physical-health-consequences-of-posttraumatic-stress/