Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent psychiatric condition that significantly increases the risk of suicide.Objective: This study aimed to assess PTSD and its co-occurring conditions among individuals who attempted suicide and to evaluate the relationship between these disorders and suicide reattempts within six months.Method: This prospective cohort study included 2,441 individuals from the French Vigilans programme who attempted suicide between 2015 and 2020. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and suicide attempt (SA) history were collected at baseline, and lifetime psychiatric conditions were assessed via the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) during the six-month follow-up telephone interview. Multivariate logistic and linear regression models were used to measure the impact of PTSD and its comorbidities on suicide reattempts within six months, controlling for sex, age, and prior SAs.Results: In total, 11.8% of the individuals (287/2,441) in the cohort were diagnosed with PTSD. Among these, 71.1% (204/287) had major depressive disorder, 36.2% (104/287) had alcohol use disorder, and 35.9% (103/287) had panic disorder. Within six months, we observed higher rates of suicide reattempt in those with PTSD (p < .01; OR 1.71 95% CI 1.14-2.55), regardless of comorbidities. Even higher rates were found in those with PTSD comorbid with panic disorder (p = .02 OR 1.95 95% CI 1.12-3.39) or substance use disorder (p = .01 OR 2.91 95% CI 1.28-6.62). Additionally, PTSD comorbid with panic disorder (p = .02, β = .10) or eating disorders (p = .04, β = .12) was associated with a greater number of suicide reattempts.Conclusion: Approximately one in ten SA survivors experienced PTSD. Individuals with PTSD and comorbid conditions, such as panic disorder, substance use disorder, and eating disorders, are two to three times more likely to reattempt suicide within six months. Despite ongoing preventive efforts, rates of reattempt remain high, highlighting the urgent need for continuous clinical monitoring and personalized therapeutic interventions.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03134885.

Traumatic war experiences, like the ones the Yazidi had to undergo due to the attack of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in August 2014, are often followed by psychological consequences such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. A more detailed analysis of such specific survivor groups is needed, to develop and implement appropriate reparation and support measures.

In this study, 194 Yazidi women were examined. PTSD was assessed using the Essen Trauma Inventory (ETI) and depression using Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-II). The potential traumatic event (PTE) and further influential factors were compared between participants with PTSD and those with PTSD and depression, using inferential statistics.

Panticipants showed high rates in prevalence and comorbidity for PTSD and depression. Those diagnosed with comorbid PTSD and depression experienced a higher number of PTEs and had been captured more often and for longer compared to those with PTSD. The number of PTEs experienced was then used to predict comorbid PTSD and depression.

Further research should consider the specific situation and the cultural expression of the Yazidi.

Almost half of sickle cell disease (SCD) patients develop chronic, debilitating physical pain with uncertain genesis for which they primarily receive opiate-based palliative treatment. Psychological trauma exposure, especially interpersonal victimization, has been linked to the perception of pain in several medical diseases, but has yet to be examined in SCD patients. This study examines self-reported chronicity of pain and use of prescribed opiates in 50 adult SCD patients with and without a history of interpersonal violence exposure. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 50 consecutive SCD patients seen for medical care in an adult subspecialty hematology clinic. Data collected included demographics, opiate use, pain chronicity, and measures of anxiety, depression, and interpersonal violence exposure. Sixty-eight percent of patients reported past interpersonal violence exposure. The mean number of types of interpersonal violence exposure, including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, was 2.76 (SD = 1.63). SCD patients with a history of interpersonal violence exposure were almost five times more likely to report chronic pain and more than six times more likely to report use of opiate-based medications on a daily basis compared with SCD patients with no history of violence exposure. Depression and anxiety symptoms were associated with violence exposure, but did not account for the relationship between violence exposure and chronic pain or prescribed opiate use. Screening and assessment of exposure to interpersonal violence may be useful in addition to screening for mental health problems in the management of chronic pain with adults diagnosed with SCD. Such screening may contribute to addressing health care disparities given the preponderance of SCD patients who are of African American ethnoracial background.

To present the sociodemographic characteristics and psychiatric symptoms of women who have been raped.

Between 2006 and 2010, a retrospective study was conducted of 468 women who underwent psychiatric evaluation at a university referral center in Brazil after an experience of sexual violence.

The women had a mean age of 24.1 years; were predominantly white, unmarried, childless, and employed; had 9-11 years of education; and had a religion. Rape was the first sexual intercourse for 124 (26.8%) of 462 for whom data were available; 53 (13.6%) of 389 had a personal history of sexual violence and 29 (8.0%) of 361 had a family history. No psychiatric symptoms were reported in 146 (32.9%) of 444 women, mild/short-term symptoms were reported in 107 (24.1%), and a psychiatric diagnosis was made for 191 (43.0%). Psychiatric comorbidity was seen in 59 (12.6%) women, and 174 (38.0%) received pharmacologic treatment. All follow-up consultations were attended by 215 (45.9%) of 468 women; 166 (35.5%) attended some, and 87 (18.6%) attended only one during the 6-month follow-up period.

The frequency and severity of psychiatric symptoms and mental disorders among women who have been raped highlights the importance of mental health monitoring.

To compare clinical characteristics of bipolar disorder (BD) in patients with and without a family history of mood disorders (FHMD) in a large sample from the Brazilian Research Network of Bipolar Disorders.

Four-hundred eighty-eight DSM-IV BD patients participating in the Brazilian Research Network of Bipolar Disorders were included. Participants were divided between those with FHMD (n=230) and without FHMD (n=258). We compared these two groups on demographic and clinical variables and performed a logistic regression to identify which variables were most strongly associated with positive family history of mood disorders.

BD patients with FHMD presented with significantly higher lifetime prevalence of any anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, substance abuse, and were more likely to present history of suicide attempts, family history of suicide attempts and suicide, and more psychiatric hospitalizations than BD patients without FHMD. Logistic regression showed that the variables most strongly associated with a positive FHMD were any comorbid anxiety disorder, comorbid substance abuse, and family history of suicide.

Cross-sectional study and verification of FHMD by indirect information.

BD patients with FHMD differ from BD patients without FHMD in rates of comorbid anxiety disorder and substance abuse, number of hospitalizations and suicide attempts. As FHMD is routinely assessed in clinical practice, these findings may help to identify patients at risk for particular manifestations of BD and may point to a common, genetically determined neurobiological substrate that increases the risk of conditions such as comorbidities and suicidality in BD patients.

Subtypes of comorbid conditions and their associated trauma and clinical characteristics in full and partial PTSD were examined. Data from 289 subjects from the general population that met criteria for full or partial PTSD were analyzed. Latent class analyses (LCA) were performed to derive homogeneous patterns of DSM-IV Axis-I disorders and anti-social personality comorbid to PTSD. Logistic regression models were conducted to characterize these classes by trauma-related and clinical features. The LCA revealed three classes: (1) low comorbidity; (2) high comorbidity with primarily substance-related disorders and a higher proportion of males; and (3) more severe PTSD-symptomatology and higher comorbid anxiety disorders and depression, almost entirely represented by females. Exposure to sexual abuse was more likely in the substance-dependent class and contributed strongly to the distinction between classes. Affective disorders tended to precede the onset of PTSD in the substance-dependent class, whereas phobias were more likely to follow PTSD in the depressed-anxious class. Posttrauma onset of alcohol use disorders in the substance dependent class confirmed the self-medication hypothesis. The three classes of comorbidity and their sequence of onset with PTSD suggest different mechanisms involved in their development. Our findings suggest that PTSD-related comorbidity subtypes also apply to individuals with partial PTSD.

American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) experience high rates of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We reviewed existing literature to address three interrelated questions: (1) What is the prevalence of PTSD and PTSD symptoms among AI/ANs? (2) What are the inciting events, risk factors, and co-morbidities in AI/ANs, and do they differ from those in the general U.S. population? (3) Are studies available to inform clinicians about the course and treatment of PTSD in this population?

We searched the PubMed and Web of Science databases and a database on AI/AN health, capturing an initial sample of 77 original English-language articles published 1992–2010. After applying exclusion criteria, we retained 37 articles on prevalence of PTSD and related symptoms among AI/AN adults. We abstracted key information and organized it in tabular format.

AI/ANs experience a substantially greater burden of PTSD and related symptoms than U.S. Whites. Combat experience and interpersonal violence were consistently cited as leading causes of PTSD and related symptoms. PTSD was associated with bodily pain, lung disorders, general health problems, substance abuse, and pathological gambling. In general, inciting events, risk factors, and co-morbidities appear similar to those in the general U.S. population.

Substantial research indicates a strikingly high incidence of PTSD in AI/AN populations. However, inciting events, risk factors, and co-morbidities in AI/ANs, and how they may differ from those in the general population, are poorly understood. Very few studies are available on the clinical course and treatment of PTSD in this vulnerable population.

Posttraumatic stress disorder is often diagnosed with other mental health problems, particularly depression. Although PTSD comorbidity has been associated with more severe and chronic symptomology, relationships among commonly co-occurring disorders are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to review the literature regarding the development of depression comorbid with combat-related PTSD among military personnel. We summarize results of commonly tested hypotheses about the etiology of PTSD and depression comorbidity, including (1) causal hypotheses, (2) common factor hypotheses, and (3) potential confounds. Evidence suggests that PTSD may be a causal risk factor for subsequent depression; however, associations are likely complex, involving bidirectional causality, common risk factors, and common vulnerabilities. The unique nature of PTSD-depression comorbidity in the context of military deployment and combat exposure is emphasized. Implications of our results for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with many psychiatric and nonpsychiatric comorbidities. Growing evidence suggests that PTSD as a comorbidity may impair drug adherence, quality of life and sleep quality, as well as increase rehospitalization rates, disease relapses, intensity of symptoms, morbidity and mortality. The aim of this article is to examine the literature regarding the effects of PTSD comorbidity on physical and mental health.