The prevalence of full and partial posttraumatic stress disorder among people with severe mental illness in Israel

• Published in: The journal of nervous and mental disease Vol. 201; no. 3; p. 244
• Main Authors: Gelkopf, Marc, Roe, David, Werbeloff, Nomi, Hasson-Ohayon, Ilanit, Mueser, Kim T, Caspi, Asaf, Weiser, Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - epidemiology; Comorbidity; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Israel; Life Change Events; Male; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Severity of Illness Index; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - classification; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - etiology; Young Adult; Israel
• ISSN: 1539-736X
• DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e3182848d1e

Research has shown higher rates of trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among persons with severe mental illness (SMI). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of traumatic events and full and partial PTSD among people with SMI and their associations with trauma-related cognitions and depressive symptoms. A total of 122 persons with SMI were assessed for trauma exposure and PTSD. A subsample of 40 participants, 20 with PTSD and 20 without PTSD, were randomly selected, and their posttraumatic cognitions and depressive symptoms were assessed. The prevalence of traumatic events was 90%, and 19% met full diagnostic criteria for PTSD, and 20% had partial PTSD. The people with PTSD had more depressive symptoms and negative cognitions. PTSD in SMI is highly prevalent and underdiagnosed.