Trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder in a large community sample of Chinese adults.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the prevalence and related factors of trauma exposure and probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults from a Chinese community sample. METHODS: Participants were 7218 adults recruited from Jiangxi and Hunan provinces in China. Life Events Checklist and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 were used to screen lifetime trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms, respectively. Participants' adverse and positive childhood experiences, behavioral inhibition, depression, insomnia, psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and ADHD symptoms were also measured. Multiple regressions were performed to examine the correlates of PTSD. RESULTS: Approximately 67.1% of participants reported one traumatic event; 27.1% experienced four or more. Participants recruited from private school, male, young age, low socioeconomic status, and poor physical health were associated with more trauma-exposure. The prevalence of PTSD was 2.1% in the total sample and 3.1% among the trauma-exposed. Among participants with PTSD, 53.6% were screened as depression, 54.3% had insomnia, 65.6% had one to three PLEs, 12.6% had four to seven PLEs, and 26.5% were screened as likely ADHD, and 5.3% highly likely ADHD. Younger age, being less educated, poor marriage quality and physical health, more adverse childhood experiences, behavioral inhibition and less positive childhood experiences were associated with increased risk of PTSD among the trauma exposed. After adjustment of these related factors, depression, insomnia, PLEs and ADHD were related to PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD is relatively prevalent among Chinese community population. Childhood experiences, behavioral inhibition, and concurrent mental health account for individual differences in vulnerability to PTSD.

Associations of substance abuse histories and gambling addiction history with post-traumatic stress symptoms and depressive symptoms among Chinese prisoners.

Background: Although there are over two million prisoners in China, few studies have reported the prevalence and correlates of mental health problems in this population. Objective: This study investigated the prevalence rates of trauma exposure, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among Chinese male prisoners and further examined the associations of substance abuse histories and gambling addiction history with PTSD and depressive symptoms. Method: Participants were 1,484 male prisoners (mean age 35.44 years, sd = 9.66) recruited from a large prison in Guangdong, China. Self-administered standardized questionnaires were used to assess trauma exposure, histories of substance abuse and perceived gambling addiction, social supports, childhood trauma, PTSD and depression. Criminal background information was extracted from jail record. Linear regressions were performed to examine the correlates of PTSD and depressive symptoms. Results: Of these participants, 78.8% had experienced at least one trauma exposure, 26.7% had drug addiction, 85.5% had smoked cigarettes, 70.8% had used alcohol and 21.4% had gambling addiction before incarceration. The prevalence rates of PTSD and depression were 7.1% and 28.8%, respectively. Trauma exposure was significantly associated with PTSD and depressive symptoms, but not substance abuse histories and gambling history except for drinking. Histories of drinking and perceived gambling addiction were significantly related to PTSD and depressive symptoms after adjustment of demographics, criminal background, health status, social supports, childhood trauma and lifetime traumatic exposure. Conclusions: Trauma exposure, PTSD and depression are common among prisoners. Furthermore, this study for the first time demonstrates a significant relationship between gambling addiction history and PTSD.

Antecedentes: Aunque hay más de dos millones de presos en China, pocos estudios han informado la prevalencia y los correlatos de los problemas de salud mental en esta población.Objetivo: Este estudio investigó las tasas de prevalencia de exposición al trauma, trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) y depresión entre prisioneros chinos masculinos y examinó más a fondo las asociaciones de los antecedentes de abuso de sustancias y el historial de ludopatía con el TEPT y los síntomas depresivos.Método: Los participantes fueron 1484 prisioneros varones (edad media 35,44 años, dt = 9,66) reclutados en una gran prisión de Guangdong, China. Se utilizaron cuestionarios estandarizados autoadministrados para evaluar la exposición al trauma, los antecedentes de abuso de sustancias y la percepción de adicción al juego, los apoyos sociales, el trauma infantil, el trastorno de estrés postraumático y la depresión. La información de antecedentes penales se extrajo del registro de la cárcel. Se realizaron regresiones lineales para examinar las correlaciones del TEPT y los síntomas depresivos.Resultados: De estos participantes, el 78,8% había experimentado al menos una exposición a un trauma, el 26,7% tenía adicción a las drogas, el 85,5% había fumado cigarrillos, el 70,8% había consumido alcohol y el 21,4% tenía ludopatía antes del encarcelamiento. Las tasas de prevalencia de trastorno de estrés postraumático y depresión fueron de 7,1% y 28,8%, respectivamente. La exposición al trauma se asoció significativamente con el trastorno de estrés postraumático y los síntomas depresivos, pero no con los antecedentes de abuso de sustancias y los antecedentes de juego, excepto por el alcohol. Las historias de adicción al alcohol y al juego se relacionaron significativamente con el trastorno de estrés postraumático y los síntomas depresivos después del ajuste por datos demográficos, antecedentes penales, el estado de salud, los apoyos sociales, el trauma infantil y la exposición al trauma a lo largo de la vida.Conclusiones: La exposición a trauma, el trastorno de estrés postraumático y la depresión son comunes entre los presos. Además, este estudio demuestra por primera vez una relación significativa entre el historial de ludopatía y el trastorno de estrés postraumático.