Development and Validation of Computerized Adaptive Assessment Tools for the Measurement of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among US Military Veterans.

Importance: Veterans from recent and past conflicts have high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Adaptive testing strategies can increase accuracy of diagnostic screening and symptom severity measurement while decreasing patient and clinician burden. Objective: To develop and validate a computerized adaptive diagnostic (CAD) screener and computerized adaptive test (CAT) for PTSD symptom severity. Design, Setting, and Participants: A diagnostic study of measure development and validation was conducted at a Veterans Health Administration facility. A total of 713 US military veterans were included. The study was conducted from April 25, 2017, to November 10, 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures: The participants completed a PTSD-symptom questionnaire from the item bank and provided responses on the PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) (PCL-5). A subsample of 304 participants were interviewed using the Clinician-Administered Scale for PTSD for DSM-5. Results: Of the 713 participants, 585 were men; mean (SD) age was 52.8 (15.0) years. The CAD-PTSD reproduced the Clinician-Administered Scale for PTSD for DSM-5 PTSD diagnosis with high sensitivity and specificity as evidenced by an area under the curve of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.87-0.95). The CAT-PTSD demonstrated convergent validity with the PCL-5 (r = 0.88) and also tracked PTSD diagnosis (area under the curve = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.79-0.89). The CAT-PTSD reproduced the final 203-item bank score with a correlation of r = 0.95 with a mean of only 10 adaptively administered items, a 95% reduction in patient burden. Conclusions and Relevance: Using a maximum of only 6 items, the CAD-PTSD developed in this study was shown to have excellent diagnostic screening accuracy. Similarly, using a mean of 10 items, the CAT-PTSD provided valid severity ratings with excellent convergent validity with an extant scale containing twice the number of items. The 10-item CAT-PTSD also outperformed the 20-item PCL-5 in terms of diagnostic accuracy. The results suggest that scalable, valid, and rapid PTSD diagnostic screening and severity measurement are possible.

Gene expression differences in PTSD are uniquely related to the intrusion symptom cluster: A transcriptome-wide analysis in military service members.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with wide-spread immune dysregulation; however, little is known about the gene expression differences attributed to each PTSD symptom cluster. This is an important consideration when identifying diagnostic and treatment response markers in highly comorbid populations with mental and physical health conditions that share symptoms. To this aim, we utilized a transcriptome-wide analysis of differential gene expression in peripheral blood by comparing military service members: (1) with vs. without PTSD, (2) with high vs. low PTSD cluster symptom severity, and (3) with improved vs. not improved PTSD symptoms following 4-8 weeks of evidenced-based sleep treatment. Data were analyzed at a ±2.0-fold change magnitude with subsequent gene ontology-based pathway analysis. In participants with PTSD (n = 39), 89 differentially expressed genes were identified, and 94% were upregulated. In participants with high intrusion symptoms (n = 22), 1040 differentially expressed genes were identified, and 98% were upregulated. No differentially expressed genes were identified for the remaining two PTSD symptom clusters. Ten genes (C5orf24, RBAK, CREBZF, CD69, PMAIP1, AGL, ZNF644, ANKRD13C, ESCO1, and ZCCHC10) were upregulated in participants with PTSD and high intrusion symptoms at baseline and downregulated in participants with improved PTSD symptoms following treatment. Pathway analysis identified upregulated immune response systems and metabolic networks with a NF-kB hub, which were downregulated with symptom reduction. Molecular biomarkers implicated in intrusion symptoms and PTSD symptom improvement may inform the development of therapeutic targets for precise treatment of PTSD.

Modifiable elements of ICU supportive care and communication are associated with surrogates' PTSD symptoms.

PURPOSE: To identify specific components of ICU clinician supportive care and communication that are associated with increased post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms for surrogate decision makers of patients with chronic critical illness (CCI). METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial of palliative care-led meetings to provide information and support for CCI surrogates. The primary outcome for this secondary analysis was PTSD symptoms at 90 days, measured by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Caregiver perceptions of clinician support and communication were assessed using a version of the After-Death Bereaved Family Member Interview (ADBFMI) instrument modified for use in non-bereaved in addition to bereaved caregivers. The association between ADBFMI items and IES-R score was analyzed using multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Ninety-day follow up was complete for 306 surrogates corresponding to 224 patients. Seventy-one percent of surrogates were female, and the mean age was 51 years. Of the domains, negative perception of the patient's physical comfort and emotional support was associated with the greatest increase in surrogate PTSD symptoms (beta coefficient 1.74, 95% CI 0.82-2.65). The three specific preselected items associated with increased surrogate PTSD symptoms were surrogate perception that clinicians did not listen to concerns (beta coefficient 10.7, 95% CI 3.6-17.9), failure of the physician to explain how the patient's pain would be treated (beta coefficient 12.1, 95% CI 4.9-19.3), and lack of sufficient religious contact (beta coefficient 11.7, 95% CI 2-21.3). CONCLUSION: Modifiable deficits in ICU clinician support and communication were associated with increased PTSD symptoms among CCI surrogates.

Are Gender Differences in DSM-5 PTSD Symptomatology Explained by Sexual Trauma?

Although many studies have assessed gender differences in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence, few examine individual PTSD symptoms (PTSSs). Hypothesizing that trauma differences explain many gender differences in symptomatology, this is the first known study to adjust PTSSs for trauma type, and to compare gender differences in those with sexual traumas. Using a cross-sectional survey methodology in a sample of adult outpatients (n = 775), we examined gender, trauma type, PTSSs, suicide, alcohol, and tobacco. Among those with trauma (n = 483), women generally had more severe symptoms than men, but after adjusting for trauma type, only physical reactivity (p = .0002), excessive startle (p = .0005), external avoidance (p = .0007), internal avoidance (p = .0008), psychological reactivity (p = .0009), and suicide attempts (p = .001) remained significantly worse among women, whereas men more commonly reported alcohol problems (p = .007). Among those with PTSD (n = 164), there were no significant PTSS gender differences. Those with sexual trauma had worse symptoms (particularly amnesia) compared with non-sexual trauma (p < .0001 for PTSD diagnosis and total severity), including within each gender. Among those with sexual trauma (n = 157), men had worse recklessness (p = .004) and more commonly reported tobacco (p = .02), whereas women more commonly attempted suicide (p = .02) and had worse avoidance (p = .04). However, when isolating the effects of sexual trauma beyond other traumas, there were no significant symptom difference-in-differences between genders. Our findings suggest that, while women have higher PTSD rates, men with PTSD present similarly. In addition, while women have higher sexual trauma rates, men may have similarly severe responses. Most gender differences in PTSD presentation appear to be explained by trauma type, particularly women having higher rates of sexual trauma. We discuss potential biopsychosocial explanations.

Automated Assessment of Patients' Self-Narratives for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Screening Using Natural Language Processing and Text Mining.

Patients' narratives about traumatic experiences and symptoms are useful in clinical screening and diagnostic procedures. In this study, we presented an automated assessment system to screen patients for posttraumatic stress disorder via a natural language processing and text-mining approach. Four machine-learning algorithms-including decision tree, naive Bayes, support vector machine, and an alternative classification approach called the product score model-were used in combination with n-gram representation models to identify patterns between verbal features in self-narratives and psychiatric diagnoses. With our sample, the product score model with unigrams attained the highest prediction accuracy when compared with practitioners' diagnoses. The addition of multigrams contributed most to balancing the metrics of sensitivity and specificity. This article also demonstrates that text mining is a promising approach for analyzing patients' self-expression behavior, thus helping clinicians identify potential patients from an early stage.

PTSD Symptom Trajectories in Disaster Volunteers: The Role of Self-Efficacy, Social Acknowledgement, and Tasks Carried Out.

Millions of volunteers respond after disasters, with a 24% to 46% risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is unclear which symptom trajectories develop and how they differ between core (volunteering before the disaster) and noncore volunteers (joining after the disaster) and which factors predict trajectories. Symptoms of PTSD were assessed at 6-, 12-, and 18-months postearthquake in 449 volunteers in Indonesia. Demographics, previous mental health service use, self-efficacy, social acknowledgment, and type of tasks were assessed at 6 months. In both core and noncore volunteers, 2 PTSD symptom trajectories emerged: a resilient trajectory (moderate levels of symptoms with a slow decrease over time; 90.9%) and a chronic trajectory (higher levels of symptoms with an increase over time; 9.1%). In both trajectories, core volunteers had fewer symptoms than noncore volunteers. Core volunteers in the chronic trajectory were characterized by having sought prior mental help, reported lower levels of self-efficacy and social acknowledgment, and were more likely to have provided psychosocial support to beneficiaries (Cramér's V = .17 to .27, partial η(2) = .02 to .06). Aid organizations should identify and follow up chronic PTSD trajectories in volunteers, including the noncore, who may be out of sight to the organization after the acute response phase.

Serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and mental disorders in imprisoned women

Objective: Mental disorders and early trauma are highly prevalent in female inmates. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in learning, memory processes, and mood regulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum BDNF levels and mental disorders among imprisoned women as compared with age- and education-matched controls. Methods: A consecutively recruited sample of 18 female prisoners with mental disorders was assessed for sociodemographic, criminal, and clinical variables using standardized instruments, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus (MINI Plus), and serum BDNF levels. Results: High rates of childhood sexual abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were found in the group of forensic patients. Serum BDNF levels in the forensic group did not differ from those of healthy controls, and were significantly higher when compared with those of women with mental disorders hospitalized in a general hospital. Conclusion: Elevated serum BDNF levels were found in imprisoned women. The results of this study may suggest neurobiological mechanisms similar to those seen in previous clinical and preclinical studies showing the involvement of BDNF in the pathophysiology of PTSD. .

[A new essence or just new names?].

Some new terms and meanings in modern psychiatry ("emotional burnout syndrome", "chronic fatigue syndrome", "panic attacks", etc.) were analyzed, due to save clinic psychiatry traditions and succession of different generations of psychiatrists. Comparison of their content and well-known science concepts proves absence of any unknown phenomenon. These terms do not introduce some new items of classic determination of psychopathology catastasis, they just rename it. The reasons of this tendency were investigated.

Trastorno por estrés postraumático: cambios significativos en el DSM-5 / [Posttraumatic stress disorder: meaningful changes in DSM-5].

UNLABELLED: The fact that posttraumatic stress disorder is a very important construct in public health and opinion, especially in the United States of America, has veiled it dubious specificity and problematic universality. HYPOTHESIS: the abandon of Freudian theory since 1980 was correlative of a permanent revision of criteria to define "traumatic" in DSM versions, as well as of revaluation of ancient theory of dissociation. METHOD: most meaningful changes introduced in PTSD criteria are critically reviewed from DSM-IV to DSM-5. "Traumatic", symptoms and dissociative estates, and a new preschool children subtype are revised. CONCLUSION: "Traumatic" yet being an artificial criterion is steel needed in order to keep the construct as a whole. Dissociative estates occupy an important place for the American authors and have turned more visible in DSM-5 than in previous DSM. New chapter "Trauma and stressor disorders" and new descriptions about PTSD support an enlarged clinical view of "traumatic". Inconsistencies found between reviews considered for PTSD in DSM-5 show that different work groups contribute to the construction of the disorder with fragmentary and divorced parts from one another.

[Historical perspective of PTSD and future revision in DSM-5].

One of prototypes of PTSD is a fright neurosis conceptualized by Kraepelin and is on the line of traditional psychogenic reaction category defined by Sommers in so far as the re-experience symptoms reflects the content of a traumatic experience. Other key components of PTSD, such as avoidance of traumatic memory and hyperarousal, overlap respectively with dissociative disorders and the somatoform autonomic dysfunction (ICD-10), which may consist, together with comorbid mood and anxiety disorders of PTSD, a spectrum of posttraumatic mental disorders. The DSM-5 draft of PTSD restricts the category in terms of the event and re-experience criterion, put an emphasis upon dissociation and enlarges numbing symptom in that it is re-categorized as a cognitive and affective alterations to be separated from avoidance symptom. This change partly reflects insight into the nature of the disorder brought by CBT-based clinical experience.

Accuracy of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 2.1) for diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder according to DSM-IV criteria / Validade do diagnóstico de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático do Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 2.1) de acordo com os critérios diagnósticos da DSM-IV

The objective was to study the accuracy of the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) section of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 2.1) DSM-IV diagnosis, using the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) as gold standard, and compare the ICD-10 and DSM IV classifications for PTSD. The CIDI was applied by trained lay interviewers and the SCID by a psychologist. The subjects were selected from a community and an outpatient program. A total of 67 subjects completed both assessments. Kappa coefficients for the ICD-10 and the DSM IV compared to the SCID diagnosis were 0.67 and 0.46 respectively. Validity for the DSM IV diagnosis was: sensitivity (51.5%), specificity (94.1%), positive predictive value (9.5%), negative predictive value (66.7%), misclassification rate (26.9%). The CIDI 2.1 demonstrated low validity coefficients for the diagnosis of PTSD using DSM IV criteria when compared to the SCID. The main source of discordance in this study was found to be the high probability of false-negative cases with regards to distress and impairment as well as to avoidance symptoms.

O objetivo deste artigo foi estudar a validade concorrente da seção de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático do CIDI 2.1 critérios DSM IV, utilizando o Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) como padrão-ouro, e comparar o diagnóstico de TEPT entre CID-10 e DSM IV. O CIDI foi aplicado por entrevistadores leigos treinados e o SCID por uma psicóloga. A amostra foi composta por sujeitos da comunidade e de um ambulatório de especialidade psiquiátrica. Sessenta e sete sujeitos completaram ambos os questionários. O coeficiente kappa foi de 0.46 ao comparar DSM IV com a SCID. A validade diagnóstica usando critérios do DSM IV foi de: sensibilidade = 51.5%, especificidade = 94.1%, valor preditivo positivo = 89.5%, valor preditivo negativo = 66.7%, taxa de classificação incorreta = 26.9%. O CIDI 2.1 apresentou valores baixos para os coeficientes de validação de TEPT usando os critérios do DSM IV ao comparar com o SCID. A principal causa de discordância foi o grande número de casos falsos negativos devido aos sintomas de significância clínica e sintomas de evitação.

An examination of the structure of posttraumatic stress disorder in relation to the anxiety and depressive disorders.

The nature and structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been the subject of much interest in recent times. This research has been represented by two streams, the first representing a substantive body of work which focuses specifically on the factor structure of PTSD and the second exploring PTSD's relationship with other mood and anxiety disorders. The present study attempted to bring these two streams together by examining structural models of PTSD and their relationship with dimensions underlying other mood and anxiety disorders. PTSD, anxiety and mood disorder data from 989 injury survivors interviewed 3-months following their injury were analyzed using a series of confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) to identify the optimal structural model. CFA analyses indicated that the best fitting model included PTSD's re-experiencing (B1-5), active avoidance (C1-2), and hypervigilance and startle (D4-5) loading onto a Fear factor (represented by panic disorder, agoraphobia and social phobia) and the PTSD dysphoria symptoms (numbing symptoms C3-7 and hyperarousal symptoms D1-3) loading onto an Anxious Misery/Distress factor (represented by depression, generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder). The findings have implications for informing potential revisions to the structure of the diagnosis of PTSD and the diagnostic algorithm to be applied, with the aim of enhancing diagnostic specificity.

[Dispute over the multiple personality disorder: theoretical or practical dilemma?]. / Spór o osobowosc mnoga: zagadnienie teoretyczne, czy praktyczne?

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) could also be referred to as multiple personality disorder (MPD). Due to rare occurrence and difficulty in its' identification it is infrequently diagnosed in Poland. The indicated disorder has been portrayed by the authors throughout the historical context, referring to initial 18th century's references concerning dissociation. A typical dissociatively disordered person has been characterized along with his individual personality categories such as: original personality, altered personality, host and personality fragment. Moreover various diagnosis criterions of DID have been introduced. DID has also been differentiated with other disorders: PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and BPD (borderline personality disorder). A hypothesis has been set up, stating that DID is directly correlated with the trauma experienced during childhood, while PTSD is linked with traumatic lived-through events in the later period of ones' life. The most contemporary and frequently used research tools for DID have been indicated: dissociative experience scale (DES) and somatoform dissociation questionnaire (SDQ-20). Based upon the known literature, the authors have presented treatment methods such as hypnotherapy and recorded therapy sessions. It is the view of the authors that the switching in dissociative identity disorder is of adaptive character (it occurrs depending upon adaptive needs).

Síndrome del trauma fetal o temprano STFT / Fetal and early trauma syndrome - FETS

Nueva descripción clínica para los caso de hijos de desaparecidos y de nacidos en cautiverio de madres bajo torturas, vejaciones y abusos como una forma especial de sufrimiento temprano, y en muchos casos fetal. Estos niños padecieron el horro, al ser separados violentamente de sus padres a la mas tierna edad, o inmediatamente después de su nacimiento en cautiverio, vendidos por sus captores y criados como adoptados o propios por los adquirentes durante la última dictadura militar (1976-83) Se discute su posible inclusión en las categorías vigentes del CIE-10 de la OMS: Trastornos de estrés postraumático F43.1, pues incluyen Las respuestas tardías o diferidas a situaciones de ser victimas de torturas, terrorismo y violación. Pero se aclara que en el caso de que las secuelas de un estrés devastador, se manifiesten después de década, habrá que codificar como Trastorno persistente de la personalidad, tras experiencia catastrófica F62.0. Se concluye con la necesidad de postular el STFT como un nuevo cuadro de los Trastornos Persistentes de la Personalidad, por sus características idiosincrásicas específicas que desbordan las descripciones clínicas disponibles que tiene ecuación etio-patológica propia y una identificación protognomónica reconocible, que en algunos casos sirvió para detectar a niños con problemas de identidad enajenada (vale entender como jurídicamente sustraída clínicamente alienada). Se mencionan aspectos propedéuticos y de tratamiento en conjunción con las particularidades de una terapéutica que restaure la personalidad privada ilegalmente en estos niños, hoy adultos de 25 a 29 años. Finalmente se realiza una discusión meta-psicológica sobre la resiliencia de la verdad, que cuando se la rechaza, retorna constituyéndose así como una, ética de la verdad

[PTSD in somatic disease]. / Posttraumatische Belastungsstörungen bei somatischen Erkrankungen.

This review describes the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in physically ill patients. At the beginning, research in the field of PTSD was primarily focused on war veterans and victims of bodily assault or rape. Starting in the early 90 s, PTSD after civilian traumas such as motor vehicle accidents was diagnosed increasingly more often. Recent publications showed that PTSD can also follow serious somatic diseases. Hence, awareness during anaesthesia, prolonged ICU treatment (ARDS, septic shock), burns, successful resuscitation after cardiac arrest, coronary artery bypass surgery, organ transplantation and cancer were all linked to the development of PTSD. Prevalence of PTSD in these medical conditions lies around 5 - 10 %, and it is therefore considered an important comorbidity. Unfortunately, the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD are not well enough established yet and thus do receive too little attention in the treatment regime of somatic illness. Generally, PTSD can occur with every life-threatening disease, but possibly also with less severe diseases if the patient experiences intense fear. PTSD symptoms, especially intrusive recollections, avoidance and hyper-arousal can impair the patients' quality of life more than the primary disease. This seems to be also true for sub-syndromal PTSD. To adequately diagnose and treat patients at risk of developing PTSD, close collaboration between physicians of all subspecialties and psychiatrists will be necessary.

Criterion validity of the self-rating inventory for posttraumatic stress disorder (SRIP) in the community of older adults.

BACKGROUND: A validated screening instrument for PTSD in community dwelling older people is lacking. This study evaluates a newly developed measure, the self-rating inventory for posttraumatic stress disorder (SRIP) on its usefulness in survey research. The predictive value of the SRIP in a community setting is investigated. METHODS: In a two-phase epidemiologic design the criterion validity of the SRIP was tested against diagnosis made with the comprehensive international diagnostic interview (CIDI) in 1721 older (55-90 years) inhabitants of the Netherlands. Optimal sensitivity and specificity was determined using a weighted receiver operator characteristic (ROC)-curve. RESULTS: Optimal sensitivity (74.2%) and specificity (81.4%) was reached with a cut-off of 39 points. LIMITATIONS: According to a strictly applied CIDI algorithm the number of 'true' cases was limited. CONCLUSION: Overall findings indicate that posttraumatic stress disorder can be identified adequately in a community-based population of older adults using the SRIP. Use of the SRIP may improve recognition and diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder in the community.

[The so-called trauma criterium (A--Criterium in DSM-IV) of post-traumatic stress disorder and its significance for social and legal insurance (II)]. / Das sogenannte Traumakriterium (A-Kriterium des DSM-IV) der Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung und seine Bedeutung für die Sozial- und Sachversicherung (II).

Since the diagnosis post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was included in the American diagnosis system DSM-III in 1980, the ongoing scientific discussion has led to a shift in the definition of the so called A-criterion (trauma criterion) away from the general theory that the disease-causing event has to be outside normal human experience towards the point of view that it is more or less determined by the subjective experience of the individual. Without wishing to become involved in the discussion, in the publication the author tries to explain, on the basis of references to basic concepts found in insurance law (accident, initial damage, suitability of event, objectivity, epidemiological considerations), that in social insurance as well as in non-life insurance an objective insured event which has a severe emotional impact on the individual is a prerequisite for payment. The conclusion is that not every mental disorder which occurs after an insured event and which has quite rightly been classified as PTSD (or partial PTSD) on the basis of the symptoms involved in accordance with ICD-10/DSM-IV (criteria B-D) necessarily results in payment under insurance law.