The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and its relation to childhood adversity in subjects with eating disorders

✍ Scribed by Susan J. Turnbull; Nicholas A. Troop; Janet L. Treasure

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 81 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1072-4133
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-0968(199712)5:4<270::aid-erv212>3.0.co;2-3

✦ Synopsis

The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its relation to childhood adversity and Axis I psychiatric disorders was assessed in a clinical population of 164 eating disorders patients. Eleven per cent (18/164) had a lifetime history of PTSD. There was no difference in the prevalence of PTSD between the subgroups of eating disorders. Higher prevalences of PTSD symptoms were found in those who had a history of childhood sexual abuse (23 per cent versus 9 per cent; p50.05), discord in the home (16 per cent versus 6 per cent; p50.05) and high parental control (44 per cent versus 6 per cent; p50.001). Higher rates of life-time comorbidity of other Axis I disorders in PTSD sufferers was only found for anxiety disorders (67 per cent versus 39 per cent, p50.03). Possible mechanisms linking childhood experiences to PTSD are discussed.