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Predictors of multiple domains of functioning in Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: Results from the Mind Your Heart Study
Author(s) -
Arenson Melanie B.,
McCaslin Shan E.,
Cohen Beth E.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.22945
Subject(s) - psychosocial , clinical psychology , optimism , depression (economics) , quality of life (healthcare) , psychology , population , social functioning , social support , posttraumatic stress , psychiatry , medicine , social psychology , distress , environmental health , economics , psychotherapist , macroeconomics
Abstract Background Those with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have lower overall functioning than healthy controls. However, this population is not homogenous, and those with PTSD have a wide range of functional outcomes. To our knowledge, only one other study has evaluated the predictors of better functioning within patients with PTSD. Methods We examined 254 veterans with likely PTSD, using the Clinician‐Administered PTSD Scale to assess PTSD symptom severity, and the SF‐36 and single‐item question to assess aspects of current functioning and quality of life. Results In fully adjusted models (controlling for age, gender, and PTSD score, and including all significant psychosocial predictors of the outcome of interest), greater sleep quality ( p = .03), lower C‐reactive protein ( p < .01), and lower erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( p = 0.04) were associated with greater physical functioning; lower depression ( p < .01) and greater perceived social support ( p = .05) were associated with greater social functioning; lower depression ( p = .02) was associated with greater occupational functioning; and greater combat exposure ( p = .04), greater optimism ( p < .01) and greater perceived social support ( p = .05) were associated with greater quality of life. Conclusions These findings highlight the differential impact of psychosocial predictors on multiple functional outcomes. As such, they provide important information for clinicians about aspects of veterans' lives that can be targeted during the treatment to improve specific types of functioning.