z-logo
Premium
The Role of Negative Affect in Differentiating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, and Their Comorbidity Among United States Veterans
Author(s) -
Klein Alexandra B.,
Dutra Sunny J.,
Bovin Michelle J.,
Keane Terence M.,
Marx Brian P.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.22612
Subject(s) - comorbidity , psychology , affect (linguistics) , anxiety , clinical psychology , psychopathology , anxiety disorder , major depressive disorder , borderline personality disorder , depression (economics) , psychiatry , mood , communication , economics , macroeconomics
Abstract Following trauma exposure, two frequently co‐occurring forms of psychopathology include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Although these diagnoses have been identified as distinct constructs, the proper classification of these disorders remains a challenge due to overlapping symptoms. Instead, systematically establishing higher‐ and lower‐order personality traits associated with each diagnosis may avoid this confound and improve differential diagnosis. In the present study, we examined how higher‐order negative affect and its lower‐order facets (i.e., anxiousness, emotional lability, and separation insecurity) may be associated with a diagnosis of PTSD only, MDD only, both diagnoses, or neither diagnosis. Participants were 1,175 veterans enrolled in the Veterans After Discharge Longitudinal Registry. Higher‐ and lower‐order negative affect were assessed using the Personality Inventory for DSM‐5 (PID‐5), and PTSD and MDD diagnoses were based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐5 (SCID‐5). Multinomial logistic regressions were used to model the association between higher‐ and lower‐order negative affect and diagnostic status, after controlling for potential covariates. Diagnostic utility analyses were conducted to examine the degree to which higher‐ and lower‐order negative affect classified participants across groups. Higher‐order negative affect and lower‐order anxiousness differentiated diagnostic groups, OR s = 1.76–4.66, and had strong specificity and negative predictive value for individuals with PTSD and MDD and those with MDD only. These findings help explain the role of higher‐order negative affect and lower‐order anxiousness in differentiating PTSD from MDD and comorbid PTSD and MDD and may have implications for assessment, differential diagnosis, and treatment planning.

This content is not available in your region!

Continue researching here.

Having issues? You can contact us here