Abstract
Background:
An increasing number of longitudinal studies investigates long-term PTSD, related outcomes and potential gender differences herein. However, a knowledge gap exists when it comes to studies following individual civilian trauma beyond a decade post-trauma.
Objective:
To investigate the long-term PTSD prevalence, associated adverse psychological, functional and economic outcomes related to (suspected) serious injury of 12-15 years ago in Dutch adults, as well as potential gender differences herein.
Method:
N = 194 trauma-exposed adults (34% women) admitted to an emergency department following suspected serious injury completed a follow-up assessment 12-15 years (M = 14.30, SD = 1.00) post-trauma. Participants completed assessments of clinician-rated PTSD symptom severity, as well as self-report questionnaires on psychological, functional and economic outcomes.
Results:
Nine participants (4.8%) fulfilled the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for PTSD related to the index trauma of 12-15 years ago. Results showed that PTSD symptom severity (CAPS-5) was significantly associated with more severe symptoms of anxiety (HADS) and depression (QIDS), lower well-being (WHO-5) and (health-related) quality of life (WHOQOL; EQ-5D-5L), but not with alcohol use (AUDIT), productivity loss at work (iPCQ) and health care use (iMCQ). No significant gender differences in the long-term PTSD prevalence nor in its related psychological, functional and economic outcomes were found.
Conclusions:
Our findings underscore the long-term presence of PTSD and associated adverse psychological and functional outcomes in a proportion of adults who experienced (suspected) serious injury over a decade ago. PTSD is already widely recognized for its substantial impact in the aftermath of a trauma. The current study emphasizes the potential long-term consequences of individual civilian trauma, highlighting the importance of accurate screening and prevention for PTSD.
An increasing number of longitudinal studies investigates long-term PTSD, related outcomes and potential gender differences herein. However, a knowledge gap exists when it comes to studies following individual civilian trauma beyond a decade post-trauma.
Objective:
To investigate the long-term PTSD prevalence, associated adverse psychological, functional and economic outcomes related to (suspected) serious injury of 12-15 years ago in Dutch adults, as well as potential gender differences herein.
Method:
N = 194 trauma-exposed adults (34% women) admitted to an emergency department following suspected serious injury completed a follow-up assessment 12-15 years (M = 14.30, SD = 1.00) post-trauma. Participants completed assessments of clinician-rated PTSD symptom severity, as well as self-report questionnaires on psychological, functional and economic outcomes.
Results:
Nine participants (4.8%) fulfilled the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for PTSD related to the index trauma of 12-15 years ago. Results showed that PTSD symptom severity (CAPS-5) was significantly associated with more severe symptoms of anxiety (HADS) and depression (QIDS), lower well-being (WHO-5) and (health-related) quality of life (WHOQOL; EQ-5D-5L), but not with alcohol use (AUDIT), productivity loss at work (iPCQ) and health care use (iMCQ). No significant gender differences in the long-term PTSD prevalence nor in its related psychological, functional and economic outcomes were found.
Conclusions:
Our findings underscore the long-term presence of PTSD and associated adverse psychological and functional outcomes in a proportion of adults who experienced (suspected) serious injury over a decade ago. PTSD is already widely recognized for its substantial impact in the aftermath of a trauma. The current study emphasizes the potential long-term consequences of individual civilian trauma, highlighting the importance of accurate screening and prevention for PTSD.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 2401285 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 31 Dec 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
