Partial versus full PTSD in the Korean community: prevalence, duration, correlates, comorbidity, and dysfunctions

Abstract

A few studies have been conducted on the prevalence of partial posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but points of agreement and disagreement between full and partial PTSD have not been fully investigated. We interviewed a representative sample of 6,258 subjects, ages 18-64 years, in household visits using the Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (K-CIDI 2.1). "Partial PTSD" was defined as >/=1 symptom in each of the three symptom groups (Criteria B, C, and D) and duration of >/=1 month (Criterion E). Estimated lifetime prevalence of partial PTSD was 2.7%, and that of full PTSD was 1.7%. A "female gender" risk factor was significantly associated with both partial and full PTSD. The mean duration of partial PTSD was 6.5 years, which was not significantly different from the 5.7 year duration of full PTSD. Traumas associated with the development of partial rather than full PTSD were "natural disaster with fire" and "military combat" in men, and "witnessing a traumatic situation" and "learning about traumas to others" in women, whereas "threatened by others" was more associated with the development of full PTSD. The rates of multiple comorbid disorders and of comorbid major depressive disorder and dysfunctions in work during the 1-month period prior to interview did not differ significantly between the partial and full PTSD groups. In conclusion, partial PTSD did not differ significantly from full PTSD in terms of duration, comorbidity, and dysfunction, but they differed markedly in terms of associated trauma types.

The nature and course of subthreshold PTSD

“…While differences between PTSD and subthreshold PTSD were clear, the need for treatment for subthreshold PTSD appears to be warranted. This is especially true in light of previous findings, including the high rates of suicidal ideation, even when controlling for depression (Marshall et al, 2001), and significant impairment (Jeon et al, 2007;Zlotnick et al, 2002). There is a strong evidence base for the successful treatment of PTSD (Foa, Davidson, & Frances, 1999); however the degree to which these techniques may be applied to a subthreshold population has yet to be determined.…”

The challenge of estimating PTSD prevalence in the context of ongoing trauma: The example of Israel during the Second Intifada

“…This rate is much lower than PTSD rates found in the above studies using checklist methods. Moreover, this rate is considerably lower than PTSD prevalence rates in unaffected populations in other countries based on research using similar structured interview methodology (Alonso et al, 2004;Jeon et al, 2007;Kessler et al, 2005).…”

Beyond the neglect of psychological consequences: post-traumatic stress disorder increases the non-fatal burden of injury by more than 50%

“…Some patients may have symptoms for more than a year, and, to calculate the YLD due to PTSD in this group of patients, information is needed on the maximum duration of the symptoms. The few longitudinal studies that have investigated the course of PTSD in injury patients reported a mean duration of PTSD symptoms of 6–8 years 17 18. In this study, we assumed that the group of patients with long-term PTSD symptoms (>1 year) will experience PTSD symptoms for on average 5.5 years, with a minimum duration of 3 years and maximum duration of 8 years.…”