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Underlying Dimensions of DSM-5 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder Symptoms

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Abstract

This study examined the relationship between the underlying latent factors of major depression symptoms and DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). A nonclinical sample of 266 participants with a trauma history participated in the study. Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to evaluate the fit of the DSM-5 PTSD model and dysphoria model, as well as a depression model comprised of somatic and nonsomatic factors. The DSM-5 PTSD model demonstrated somewhat better fit over the dysphoria model. Wald tests indicated that PTSD’s negative alterations in cognitions and mood factor was more strongly related to depression’s nonsomatic factor than its somatic factor. This study furthers a nascent line of research examining the relationship between PTSD and depression factors in order to better understand the nature of the high comorbidity rates between the two disorders. Moreover, this study provides an initial analysis of the new DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA

    Tracey L. Biehn, Jon D. Elhai & Laura D. Seligman

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA

    Jon D. Elhai & Marijo Tamburrino

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Ulster, Coleraine Campus, Ulster, Ireland

    Cherie Armour

  4. Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Melbourne, Australia

    David Forbes

  5. Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    David Forbes

Authors
  1. Tracey L. Biehn
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  2. Jon D. Elhai
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  3. Laura D. Seligman
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  4. Marijo Tamburrino
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  5. Cherie Armour
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  6. David Forbes
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This paper was based on the first author’s doctoral dissertation, supervised by the second author.

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Biehn, T.L., Elhai, J.D., Seligman, L.D. et al. Underlying Dimensions of DSM-5 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder Symptoms. Psychol. Inj. and Law 6, 290–298 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12207-013-9177-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12207-013-9177-4

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