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Logue MW, van Rooij SJH, Dennis EL, Davis SL, Hayes JP, Stevens JS, Densmore M, Haswell CC, Ipser J, Koch SBJ, Korgaonkar M, Lebois LAM, Peverill M, Baker JT, Boedhoe PSW, Frijling JL, Gruber SA, Harpaz-Rotem I, Jahanshad N, Koopowitz S, Levy I, Nawijn L, O'Connor L, Olff M, Salat DH, Sheridan MA, Spielberg JM, van Zuiden M, Winternitz SR, Wolff JD, Wolf EJ, Wang X, Wrocklage K, Abdallah CG, Bryant RA, Geuze E, Jovanovic T, Kaufman ML, King AP, Krystal JH, Lagopoulos J, Bennett M, Lanius R, Liberzon I, McGlinchey RE, McLaughlin KA, Milberg WP, Miller MW, Ressler KJ, Veltman DJ, Stein DJ, Thomaes K, Thompson PM, Morey RA. Smaller Hippocampal Volume in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Multisite ENIGMA-PGC Study: Subcortical Volumetry Results From Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Consortia. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 83:244-253. [PMID: 29217296 PMCID: PMC5951719 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 284] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many studies report smaller hippocampal and amygdala volumes in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but findings have not always been consistent. Here, we present the results of a large-scale neuroimaging consortium study on PTSD conducted by the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC)-Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) PTSD Working Group. METHODS We analyzed neuroimaging and clinical data from 1868 subjects (794 PTSD patients) contributed by 16 cohorts, representing the largest neuroimaging study of PTSD to date. We assessed the volumes of eight subcortical structures (nucleus accumbens, amygdala, caudate, hippocampus, pallidum, putamen, thalamus, and lateral ventricle). We used a standardized image-analysis and quality-control pipeline established by the ENIGMA consortium. RESULTS In a meta-analysis of all samples, we found significantly smaller hippocampi in subjects with current PTSD compared with trauma-exposed control subjects (Cohen's d = -0.17, p = .00054), and smaller amygdalae (d = -0.11, p = .025), although the amygdala finding did not survive a significance level that was Bonferroni corrected for multiple subcortical region comparisons (p < .0063). CONCLUSIONS Our study is not subject to the biases of meta-analyses of published data, and it represents an important milestone in an ongoing collaborative effort to examine the neurobiological underpinnings of PTSD and the brain's response to trauma.
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Miller MW, Maniates H, Wolf EJ, Logue MW, Schichman SA, Stone A, Milberg W, McGlinchey R. CRP polymorphisms and DNA methylation of the AIM2 gene influence associations between trauma exposure, PTSD, and C-reactive protein. Brain Behav Immun 2018; 67:194-202. [PMID: 28867284 PMCID: PMC5696006 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have implicated inflammatory processes in the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). C-reactive protein (CRP) is a widely-used measure of peripheral inflammation, but little is known about the genetic and epigenetic factors that influence blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in individuals with PTSD. METHODS Participants were 286 U.S. military veterans of post-9/11 conflicts (57% with current PTSD). Analyses focused on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CRP gene and DNA methylation at cg10636246 in AIM2-a locus recently linked to CRP levels through results from a large-scale epigenome-wide association study. RESULTS PTSD was positively correlated with serum CRP levels with PTSD cases more likely to have CRP levels in the clinically-elevated range compared to those without a PTSD diagnosis. Multivariate analyses that controlled for white blood cell proportions, genetic principal components, age and sex, showed this association to be mediated by methylation at the AIM2 locus. rs3091244, a functional SNP in the CRP promoter region, moderated the association between lifetime trauma exposure and current PTSD severity. Analyses also revealed that the top SNPs from the largest genome-wide association study of CRP conducted to date (rs1205 and rs2794520) significantly interacted with PTSD to influence CRP levels. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide new insights into genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of inflammatory processes in the pathophysiology of PTSD and point to new directions for biomarker identification and treatment development for patients with PTSD.
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Wisco BE, Marx BP, Miller MW, Wolf EJ, Krystal JH, Southwick SM, Pietrzak RH. A comparison of ICD-11 and DSM criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder in two national samples of U.S. military veterans. J Affect Disord 2017; 223:17-19. [PMID: 28715723 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The proposed ICD-11 criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) differ substantially from the DSM-5. ICD-11 eliminated several PTSD symptoms thought to be nonspecific, with the goal of reducing psychiatric comorbidities. However, this change also results in a narrower PTSD definition that may fail to capture individuals with clinically significant PTSD. The purpose of the current study was to compare prevalence and psychiatric comorbidities of DSM (IV/5) and ICD-11 PTSD. METHODS We evaluated concordance between DSM (IV/5) and ICD-11 PTSD diagnoses in a web survey of two nationally representative samples of U.S. military veterans (ns = 3517 and 1484). Lifetime and past-month PTSD symptoms were assessed with the DSM-IV-based PTSD Checklist-Specific Stressor version and the DSM-5-based PTSD Checklist-5. Psychiatric comorbidities were assessed using MINI Neuropsychiatric Interview modules. RESULTS A significantly greater proportion of veterans met criteria for lifetime and past-month PTSD under DSM-IV/5 than under ICD-11. 21.8-35.9% of those who met criteria under DSM IV/5 did not meet under ICD-11, whereas only 2.4-7.1% of those who met under ICD-11 did not meet under DSM-IV/5. Psychiatric comorbidities did not significantly differ between DSM-IV/5 and ICD-11. LIMITATIONS This study relied upon self-report measures of PTSD, distress/impairment, and psychiatric comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS The proposed ICD-11 criteria identify fewer PTSD cases than DSM-IV/5 without reducing psychiatric comorbidities. Veterans with clinically significant PTSD symptoms may not meet ICD-11 PTSD criteria, possibly affecting eligibility for healthcare, disability, and other services. The ICD-11 criteria could be revised to capture more PTSD cases before ICD-11 is published in 2018.
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Wolf EJ, Miller DR, Logue MW, Sumner J, Stoop TB, Leritz EC, Hayes JP, Stone A, Schichman SA, McGlinchey RE, Milberg WP, Miller MW. Contributions of polygenic risk for obesity to PTSD-related metabolic syndrome and cortical thickness. Brain Behav Immun 2017; 65:328-336. [PMID: 28579519 PMCID: PMC5537007 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research suggests that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and that PTSD-associated MetS is related to decreased cortical thickness. However, the role of genetic factors in these associations is unclear. This study evaluated contributions of polygenic obesity risk and PTSD to MetS and of MetS and polygenic obesity risk to cortical thickness. METHODS 196 white, non-Hispanic veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan underwent clinical diagnostic interviews, physiological assessments, and genome-wide genotyping; 168 also completed magnetic resonance imaging scans. Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for obesity were calculated from results of a prior genome-wide association study (Speliotes et al., 2010) and PTSD and MetS severity factor scores were obtained. RESULTS Obesity PRS (β=0.15, p=0.009) and PTSD (β=0.17, p=0.005) predicted MetS and interacted such that the association between PTSD and MetS was stronger in individuals with greater polygenic obesity risk (β=0.13, p=0.02). Whole-brain vertex-wise analyses suggested that obesity PRS interacted with MetS to predict decreased cortical thickness in left rostral middle frontal gyrus (β=-0.40, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that PTSD, genetic variability, and MetS are related in a transactional fashion wherein obesity genetic risk increases stress-related metabolic pathology, and compounds the ill health effects of MetS on the brain. Genetic proclivity towards MetS should be considered in PTSD patients when prescribing psychotropic medications with adverse metabolic profiles. Results are consistent with a growing literature suggestive of PTSD-related accelerated aging.
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Hayes JP, Reagan A, Logue MW, Hayes SM, Sadeh N, Miller DR, Verfaellie M, Wolf EJ, McGlinchey RE, Milberg WP, Stone A, Schichman SA, Miller MW. BDNF genotype is associated with hippocampal volume in mild traumatic brain injury. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2017; 17:107-117. [PMID: 28755387 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 07/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The negative long-term effects of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) have been a growing concern in recent years, with accumulating evidence suggesting that mTBI combined with additional vulnerability factors may induce neurodegenerative-type changes in the brain. However, the factors instantiating risk for neurodegenerative disease following mTBI are unknown. This study examined the link between mTBI and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genotype, which has previously been shown to regulate processes involved in neurodegeneration including synaptic plasticity and facilitation of neural survival through its expression. Specifically, we examined nine BDNF single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs908867, rs11030094, rs6265, rs10501087, rs1157659, rs1491850, rs11030107, rs7127507 and rs12273363) previously associated with brain atrophy or memory deficits in mTBI. Participants were 165 white, non-Hispanic Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans between the ages of 19 and 58, 110 of whom had at least one mTBI in their lifetime. Results showed that the BDNF SNP rs1157659 interacted with mTBI to predict hippocampal volume. Furthermore, exploratory analysis of functional resting state data showed that rs1157659 minor allele homozygotes with a history of mTBI had reduced functional connectivity in the default mode network compared to major allele homozygotes and heterozygotes. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) was not a significant predictor of hippocampal volume or functional connectivity. These results suggest that rs1157659 minor allele homozygotes may be at greater risk for neurodegeneration after exposure to mTBI and provide further evidence for a potential role for BDNF in regulating neural processes following mTBI.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aim of this paper is to review the recent literature on traumatic stress-related accelerated aging, including a focus on cellular mechanisms and biomarkers of cellular aging and on the clinical manifestations of accelerated biological aging. RECENT FINDINGS Multiple lines of research converge to suggest that PTSD is associated with accelerated aging in the epigenome, and the immune and inflammation systems, and this may be reflected in premature onset of cardiometabolic and cardiovascular disease. The current state of research paves the way for future work focused on identifying the peripheral and central biological mechanisms linking traumatic stress to accelerated biological aging and medical morbidity, with an emphasis on processes involved in inflammation, immune functioning, oxidative stress, autonomic arousal, and stress response. Ultimately, such work could help reduce the pace of biological aging and improve health and wellness.
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Logue MW, Smith AK, Wolf EJ, Maniates H, Stone A, Schichman SA, McGlinchey RE, Milberg W, Miller MW. The correlation of methylation levels measured using Illumina 450K and EPIC BeadChips in blood samples. Epigenomics 2017; 9:1363-1371. [PMID: 28809127 PMCID: PMC5967357 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2017-0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM We examined concordance of methylation levels across the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip and the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip. METHODS We computed the correlation for 145 whole blood DNA samples at each of the 422,524 CpG sites measured by both chips. RESULTS The correlation at some sites was high (up to r = 0.95), but many sites had low correlation (55% had r < 0.20). The low correspondence between 450K and EPIC measured methylation values at many loci was largely due to the low variability in methylation values for the majority of the CpG sites in blood. CONCLUSION Filtering out probes based on the observed correlation or low variability may increase reproducibility of BeadChip-based epidemiological studies.
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Sumner JA, Duncan LE, Wolf EJ, Amstadter AB, Baker DG, Beckham JC, Gelaye B, Hemmings S, Kimbrel NA, Logue MW, Michopoulos V, Mitchell KS, Nievergelt C, Rothbaum A, Seedat S, Shinozaki G, Vermetten E. Letter to the Editor: Posttraumatic stress disorder has genetic overlap with cardiometabolic traits. Psychol Med 2017; 47:2036-2039. [PMID: 28374664 PMCID: PMC5501741 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291717000733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Miller DR, Logue MW, Wolf EJ, Maniates H, Robinson ME, Hayes JP, Stone A, Schichman S, McGlinchey RE, Milberg WP, Miller MW. Posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity is associated with reduced default mode network connectivity in individuals with elevated genetic risk for psychopathology. Depress Anxiety 2017; 34:632-640. [PMID: 28494120 PMCID: PMC5523965 DOI: 10.1002/da.22633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence suggests that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with disrupted default mode network (DMN) connectivity, but findings across studies have not been uniform. Individual differences in relevant genes may account for some of the reported variability in the relationship between DMN connectivity and PTSD. In this study, we investigated this possibility using genome-wide association study (GWAS) derived polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for relevant psychiatric traits. We hypothesized that the association between PTSD and DMN connectivity would be moderated by genetic risk for one or more psychiatric traits such that individuals with elevated polygenic risk for psychopathology and severe PTSD would exhibit disrupted DMN connectivity. METHODS Participants were 156 white, non-Hispanic veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who were genotyped and underwent resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging and clinical assessment. PRSs for neuroticism, anxiety, major depressive disorder, and cross-disorder risk (based on five psychiatric disorders) were calculated using summary statistics from published large-scale consortia-based GWASs. RESULTS Cross-disorder polygenic risk influenced the relationship between DMN connectivity and PTSD symptom severity such that individuals at greater genetic risk showed a significant negative association between PTSD symptom severity and connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex and right middle temporal gyrus. Polygenic risk for neuroticism, anxiety, and major depressive disorder did not influence DMN connectivity directly or through an interaction with PTSD. CONCLUSIONS Findings illustrate the potential power of genome-wide PRSs to advance understanding of the relationship between PTSD and DMN connectivity, a putative neural endophenotype of the disorder.
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Lusk JD, Sadeh N, Wolf EJ, Miller MW. Reckless Self-Destructive Behavior and PTSD in Veterans: The Mediating Role of New Adverse Events. J Trauma Stress 2017; 30:270-278. [PMID: 28471014 PMCID: PMC5482753 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 02/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The addition of self-destructive and reckless behavior as a symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in DSM-5 has stimulated renewed interest in understanding relationships between these behaviors and trauma-related psychopathology. This study examined the relationship between reckless and self-destructive behaviors (RSDB), intervening exposure to new adverse events, and later PTSD severity in a sample of trauma-exposed veterans. At baseline, participants were assessed for RSDB (past 5 years) and current PTSD severity (N = 222). PTSD severity was then reassessed approximately 4 years later (N = 148). Overall, RSDB were reported by 74.4% of the sample, with 61.3% engaging in multiple forms of RSDB. The most commonly endorsed behaviors included alcohol/drug abuse (42.8%), driving while intoxicated (29.4%), gambling (24.7%), and aggression (23.1%). There was a positive correlation between RSDB and PTSD severity at both the baseline (r = .16, p = .031) and follow-up assessment (r = .24, p = .005). Path models indicated that exposure to new adverse events fully mediated the effect of Time 1 RSDB on PTSD symptoms at Time 2 (indirect association: β = .05, p = .046). Results suggest that RSDB are common among trauma-exposed veterans and may perpetuate PTSD symptoms by increasing exposure to new adverse events.
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Hayes JP, Logue MW, Sadeh N, Spielberg JM, Verfaellie M, Hayes SM, Reagan A, Salat DH, Wolf EJ, McGlinchey RE, Milberg WP, Stone A, Schichman SA, Miller MW. Mild traumatic brain injury is associated with reduced cortical thickness in those at risk for Alzheimer's disease. Brain 2017; 140:813-825. [PMID: 28077398 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aww344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury is one of the strongest environmental risk factors for the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as late-onset Alzheimer's disease, although it is unclear whether mild traumatic brain injury, or concussion, also confers risk. This study examined mild traumatic brain injury and genetic risk as predictors of reduced cortical thickness in brain regions previously associated with early Alzheimer's disease, and their relationship with episodic memory. Participants were 160 Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans between the ages of 19 and 58, many of whom carried mild traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses. Whole-genome polygenic risk scores for the development of Alzheimer's disease were calculated using summary statistics from the largest Alzheimer's disease genome-wide association study to date. Results showed that mild traumatic brain injury moderated the relationship between genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease and cortical thickness, such that individuals with mild traumatic brain injury and high genetic risk showed reduced cortical thickness in Alzheimer's disease-vulnerable regions. Among males with mild traumatic brain injury, high genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease was associated with cortical thinning as a function of time since injury. A moderated mediation analysis showed that mild traumatic brain injury and high genetic risk indirectly influenced episodic memory performance through cortical thickness, suggesting that cortical thinning in Alzheimer's disease-vulnerable brain regions is a mechanism for reduced memory performance. Finally, analyses that examined the apolipoprotein E4 allele, post-traumatic stress disorder, and genetic risk for schizophrenia and depression confirmed the specificity of the Alzheimer's disease polygenic risk finding. These results provide evidence that mild traumatic brain injury is associated with greater neurodegeneration and reduced memory performance in individuals at genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease, with the caveat that the order of causal effects cannot be inferred from cross-sectional studies. These results underscore the importance of documenting head injuries even within the mild range as they may interact with genetic risk to produce negative long-term health consequences such as neurodegenerative disease.
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Hayes JP, Logue MW, Reagan A, Salat D, Wolf EJ, Sadeh N, Spielberg JM, Sperbeck E, Hayes SM, McGlinchey RE, Milberg WP, Verfaellie M, Stone A, Schichman SA, Miller MW. COMT Val158Met polymorphism moderates the association between PTSD symptom severity and hippocampal volume. J Psychiatry Neurosci 2017; 42:95-102. [PMID: 28234210 PMCID: PMC5373706 DOI: 10.1503/jpn.150339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Memory-based alterations are among the hallmark symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and may be associated with the integrity of the hippocampus. However, neuroimaging studies of hippocampal volume in individuals with PTSD have yielded inconsistent results, raising the possibility that various moderators, such as genetic factors, may influence this association. We examined whether the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism, which has previously been shown to be associated with hippocampal volume in healthy individuals, moderates the association between PTSD and hippocampal volume. METHODS Recent war veterans underwent structural MRI on a 3 T scanner. We extracted volumes of the right and left hippocampus using FreeSurfer and adjusted them for individual differences in intracranial volume. We assessed PTSD severity using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Hierarchical linear regression was used to model the genotype (Val158Met polymorphism) × PTSD severity interaction and its association with hippocampal volume. RESULTS We included 146 white, non-Hispanic recent war veterans (90% male, 53% with diagnosed PTSD) in our analyses. A significant genotype × PTSD symptom severity interaction emerged such that individuals with greater current PTSD symptom severity who were homozygous for the Val allele showed significant reductions in left hippocampal volume. LIMITATIONS The direction of proposed effects is unknown, thus precluding definitive assessment of whether differences in hippocampal volume reflect a consequence of PTSD, a pre-existing characteristic, or both. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the COMT polymorphism moderates the association between PTSD and hippocampal volume. These results highlight the role that the dopaminergic system has in brain structure and suggest a possible mechanism for memory disturbance in individuals with PTSD.
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Mitchell KS, Wolf EJ, Bovin MJ, Lee LO, Green JD, Rosen RC, Keane TM, Marx BP. Network models of DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder: Implications for ICD-11. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY 2017; 126:355-366. [PMID: 28191985 DOI: 10.1037/abn0000252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Recent proposals for revisions to the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnostic criteria have argued that the current symptom constellation under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 is unwieldy and includes many symptoms that overlap with other disorders. The newly proposed criteria for the ICD-11 include only 6 symptoms. However, restricting the symptoms to those included in the ICD-11 has implications for PTSD diagnosis prevalence estimates, and it remains unclear whether these 6 symptoms are most strongly associated with a diagnosis of PTSD. Network analytic methods, which assume that psychiatric disorders are networks of interrelated symptoms, provide information regarding which symptoms are most central to a network. We estimated network models of PTSD in a national sample of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. In the full sample, the most central symptoms were persistent negative emotional state, efforts to avoid external reminders, efforts to avoid thoughts or memories, inability to experience positive emotions, distressing dreams, and intrusive distressing thoughts or memories; that is, 3 of the 6 most central items to the network would be eliminated from the diagnosis under the current proposal for ICD-11. An empirically defined index summarizing the most central symptoms in the network performed comparably to an index reflecting the proposed ICD-11 PTSD criteria at identifying individuals with an independently assessed DSM-5 defined PTSD diagnosis. Our results highlight the symptoms most central to PTSD in this sample, which may inform future diagnostic systems and treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Bovin MJ, Wolf EJ, Resick PA. Longitudinal Associations between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Severity and Personality Disorder Features among Female Rape Survivors. Front Psychiatry 2017; 8:6. [PMID: 28210229 PMCID: PMC5288366 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated how change in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was associated with residualized change in comorbid personality disorder (PD) features and vice versa over the course of 5-10 years. The sample was comprised of 79 female rape survivors who met criteria for PTSD and who were a part of a larger study examining the effects of trauma-focused therapy. PTSD was assessed with the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) version of the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale [CAPS-IV (1)] and PD features were assessed with the DSM-IV dimensional PD scales on the Schedule for Non-adaptive and Adaptive Personality [SNAP (2)]. PTSD symptom severity and PD features were assessed at baseline and between 5 and 10 years after completing treatment. Multiple regression analyses revealed that PTSD symptom change was related to residualized change in PD severity for paranoid, schizotypal, antisocial, borderline, avoidant, and dependent PD (βs ranged from -0.23 to -0.33; all ps < 0.05). In addition, for borderline and antisocial PDs, longitudinal stability of the PD was attenuated among those with greater PTSD symptom improvement (i.e., the relationship between these PDs over time was altered as a function of PTSD symptom change; βs ranged from -0.27 to -0.29; all ps < 0.05). Similarly, change in severity of paranoid, schizotypal, antisocial, avoidant, and obsessive-compulsive (OC) PD was associated with residualized change in PTSD symptoms (βs ranged from -0.32 to -0.41; all ps < 0.05), and the longitudinal stability of PTSD was attenuated as a product of change in OC PD (β = -0.27; p < 0.02). These findings suggest that these two sets of disorders may impact one another substantially, altering the course of even chronic, characterological conditions. This carries important clinical implications for the treatment of both PTSD and PDs.
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Wisco BE, Marx BP, Miller MW, Wolf EJ, Mota NP, Krystal JH, Southwick SM, Pietrzak RH. Probable Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the US Veteran Population According to DSM-5: Results From the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. J Clin Psychiatry 2016; 77:1503-1510. [PMID: 27631148 DOI: 10.4088/jcp.15m10188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE With the publication of DSM-5, important changes were made to the diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including the addition of 3 new symptoms. Some have argued that these changes will further increase the already high rates of comorbidity between PTSD and other psychiatric disorders. This study examined the prevalence of DSM-5 PTSD, conditional probability of PTSD given certain trauma exposures, endorsement of specific PTSD symptoms, and psychiatric comorbidities in the US veteran population. METHODS Data were analyzed from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study (NHRVS), a Web-based survey of a cross-sectional, nationally representative, population-based sample of 1,484 US veterans, which was fielded from September through October 2013. Probable PTSD was assessed using the PTSD Checklist-5. RESULTS The weighted lifetime and past-month prevalence of probable DSM-5 PTSD was 8.1% (SE = 0.7%) and 4.7% (SE = 0.6%), respectively. Conditional probability of lifetime probable PTSD ranged from 10.1% (sudden death of close family member or friend) to 28.0% (childhood sexual abuse). The DSM-5 PTSD symptoms with the lowest prevalence among veterans with probable PTSD were trauma-related amnesia and reckless and self-destructive behavior. Probable PTSD was associated with increased odds of mood and anxiety disorders (OR = 7.6-62.8, P < .001), substance use disorders (OR = 3.9-4.5, P < .001), and suicidal behaviors (OR = 6.7-15.1, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS In US veterans, the prevalence of DSM-5 probable PTSD, conditional probability of probable PTSD, and odds of psychiatric comorbidity were similar to prior findings with DSM-IV-based measures; we found no evidence that changes in DSM-5 increase psychiatric comorbidity. Results underscore the high rates of exposure to both military and nonmilitary trauma and the high public health burden of DSM-5 PTSD and comorbid conditions in veterans.
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Dutra SJ, Wolf EJ. Perspectives on the conceptualization of the dissociative subtype of PTSD and implications for treatment. Curr Opin Psychol 2016; 14:35-39. [PMID: 28813316 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A dissociative subtype of PTSD was added to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to denote a distinct presentation of PTSD marked by symptoms of derealization and depersonalization. The subtype has brought renewed interest in the conceptualization of dissociation in PTSD, and raised questions about its treatment. We review the evidence for two models of PTSD-related dissociative symptoms and the treatment approaches that align with each. We find support for the contributions of biologically-based trait-level factors to dissociation, and suggest that empirically supported treatments for PTSD demonstrate efficacy for patients with the subtype.
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Mitchell KS, Wolf EJ. PTSD, food addiction, and disordered eating in a sample of primarily older veterans: The mediating role of emotion regulation. Psychiatry Res 2016; 243:23-9. [PMID: 27344589 PMCID: PMC5014719 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with eating disorders (EDs) and addictive behaviors, including the relatively new construct food addiction. However, few studies have investigated mechanisms that account for these associations, and men are underrepresented in studies of EDs and food addiction. We examined whether lifetime PTSD symptoms were associated with current food addiction and ED symptoms, and whether emotion regulation (expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal), which has been associated with both PTSD and EDs, mediated these relations, in a sample of trauma-exposed, male (n=642) and female (n=55) veterans. Participants were recruited from the Knowledge Networks-GfK Research Panel and completed an online questionnaire. Structural equation modeling revealed that PTSD was directly associated with ED symptoms, food addiction, expressive suppression, and cognitive reappraisal in the full sample and with all constructs except cognitive reappraisal in the male subsample. Expressive suppression was significantly associated with ED symptoms and mediated the PTSD-ED relation. These results highlight the importance of investigating PTSD as a risk factor for food addiction and ED symptoms and the potential mediating role of emotion regulation in the development of PTSD and EDs in order to identify targets for treatments.
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Bankoff SM, Richards LK, Bartlett B, Wolf EJ, Mitchell KS. Examining weight and eating behavior by sexual orientation in a sample of male veterans. Compr Psychiatry 2016; 68:134-9. [PMID: 27234194 PMCID: PMC4884604 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 03/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/25/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Eating disorders are understudied in men and in sexual minority populations; however, extant evidence suggests that gay men have higher rates of disordered eating than heterosexual men. The present study examined the associations between sexual orientation, body mass index (BMI), disordered eating behaviors, and food addiction in a sample of male veterans. METHOD Participants included 642 male veterans from the Knowledge Networks-GfK Research Panel. They were randomly selected from a larger study based on previously reported trauma exposure; 96% identified as heterosexual. Measures included the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale, the Yale Food Addiction Scale, and self-reported height and weight. RESULTS Heterosexual and sexual minority men did not differ significantly in terms of BMI. However, gay and bisexual men (n=24) endorsed significantly greater eating disorder symptoms and food addiction compared to heterosexual men. CONCLUSIONS Our findings that sexual minority male veterans may be more likely to experience eating disorder and food addiction symptoms compared to heterosexual male veterans highlight the importance of prevention, assessment, and treatment efforts targeted to this population.
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Wolf EJ, Schnurr PP. Developing Comprehensive Models of the Effects of Stress and Trauma on Biology, Brain, Behavior, and Body. Biol Psychiatry 2016; 80:6-8. [PMID: 27312232 PMCID: PMC4913778 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Revised: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Wolf EJ, Bovin MJ, Green JD, Mitchell KS, Stoop TB, Barretto KM, Jackson CE, Lee LO, Fang SC, Trachtenberg F, Rosen RC, Keane TM, Marx BP. Longitudinal associations between post-traumatic stress disorder and metabolic syndrome severity. Psychol Med 2016; 46:2215-2226. [PMID: 27087657 PMCID: PMC4925183 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291716000817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with elevated risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, the direction of this association is not yet established, as most prior studies employed cross-sectional designs. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate bidirectional associations between PTSD and MetS using a longitudinal design. METHOD A total of 1355 male and female veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan underwent PTSD diagnostic assessments and their biometric profiles pertaining to MetS were extracted from the electronic medical record at two time points (spanning ~2.5 years, n = 971 at time 2). RESULTS The prevalence of MetS among veterans with PTSD was just under 40% at both time points and was significantly greater than that for veterans without PTSD; the prevalence of MetS among those with PTSD was also elevated relative to age-matched population estimates. Cross-lagged panel models revealed that PTSD severity predicted subsequent increases in MetS severity (β = 0.08, p = 0.002), after controlling for initial MetS severity, but MetS did not predict later PTSD symptoms. Logistic regression results suggested that for every 10 PTSD symptoms endorsed at time 1, the odds of a subsequent MetS diagnosis increased by 56%. CONCLUSIONS Results highlight the substantial cardiometabolic concerns of young veterans with PTSD and raise the possibility that PTSD may predispose individuals to accelerated aging, in part, manifested clinically as MetS. This demonstrates the need to identify those with PTSD at greatest risk for MetS and to develop interventions that improve both conditions.
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Miller MW, Sperbeck E, Robinson ME, Sadeh N, Wolf EJ, Hayes JP, Logue M, Schichman SA, Stone A, Milberg W, McGlinchey R. 5-HT2A Gene Variants Moderate the Association between PTSD and Reduced Default Mode Network Connectivity. Front Neurosci 2016; 10:299. [PMID: 27445670 PMCID: PMC4923242 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2016.00299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The default mode network (DMN) has been used to study disruptions of functional connectivity in a wide variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies indicate that the serotonin system exerts a modulatory influence on DMN connectivity; however, no prior study has examined associations between serotonin receptor gene variants and DMN connectivity in either clinical or healthy samples. We examined serotonin receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), PTSD, and their interactions for association with DMN connectivity in 134 White non-Hispanic veterans. We began by analyzing candidate SNPs identified in prior meta-analyses of relevant psychiatric traits and found that rs7997012 (an HTR2A SNP), implicated previously in anti-depressant medication response in the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives for Depression study (STAR(*)D; McMahon et al., 2006), interacted with PTSD to predict reduced connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and the right medial prefrontal cortex and right middle temporal gyrus (MTG). rs130058 (HTR1B) was associated with connectivity between the PCC and right angular gyrus. We then expanded our analysis to 99 HTR1B and HTR2A SNPs and found two HTR2A SNPs (rs977003 and rs7322347) that significantly moderated the association between PTSD severity and the PCC-right MTG component of the DMN after correcting for multiple testing. Finally, to obtain a more precise localization of the most significant SNP × PTSD interaction, we performed a whole cortex vertex-wise analysis of the rs977003 effect. This analysis revealed the locus of the pre-frontal effect to be in portions of the superior frontal gyrus, while the temporal lobe effect was centered in the middle and inferior temporal gyri. These findings point to the influence of HTR2A variants on DMN connectivity and advance knowledge of the role of 5-HT2A receptors in the neurobiology of PTSD.
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Sadeh N, Wolf EJ, Logue MW, Lusk J, Hayes JP, McGlinchey RE, Milberg WP, Stone A, Schichman SA, Miller MW. Polygenic Risk for Externalizing Psychopathology and Executive Dysfunction in Trauma-Exposed Veterans. Clin Psychol Sci 2016; 4:545-558. [PMID: 27453802 PMCID: PMC4951156 DOI: 10.1177/2167702615613310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The frequent co-occurrence of antisocial behavior and other disinhibited phenotypes reflects a highly heritable externalizing spectrum. We examined the molecular genetic basis of this spectrum by testing polygenic associations with psychopathology symptoms, impulsive traits, and cognitive functions in two samples of primarily military veterans (n =537, n =194). We also investigated whether polygenic risk for externalizing moderated the effects of trauma on these phenotypes. As hypothesized, polygenic risk positively predicted externalizing psychopathology and negatively predicted performance on inhibitory control tasks. Gene-by-environment effects were also evident, with trauma exposure predicting greater impulsivity and less working memory capacity, but only at high levels of genetic liability. As expected, polygenic risk was not associated with internalizing psychopathology or episodic memory performance. This is the first independent replication of the polygenic score as a measure of genetic predispositions for externalizing and provides preliminary evidence that executive dysfunction is a heritable vulnerability for externalizing psychopathology.
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Sadeh N, Wolf EJ, Logue MW, Hayes JP, Stone A, Griffin LM, Schichman SA, Miller MW. EPIGENETIC VARIATION AT SKA2 PREDICTS SUICIDE PHENOTYPES AND INTERNALIZING PSYCHOPATHOLOGY. Depress Anxiety 2016; 33:308-15. [PMID: 27038412 PMCID: PMC4825872 DOI: 10.1002/da.22480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA methylation of the SKA2 gene has recently been implicated as a biomarker of suicide risk and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To examine the specificity and reliability of these findings, we examined associations between SKA2 DNA methylation, broad dimensions of psychiatric symptoms, and suicide phenotypes in adults with high levels of trauma exposure. METHODS A total of 466 White, non-Hispanic veterans and their intimate partners (65% male) underwent clinical assessment and had blood drawn for genotyping and methylation analysis. DNA methylation of the CpG locus cg13989295 and genotype at the methylation-associated single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs7208505 were examined in relation to current and lifetime PTSD, internalizing and externalizing psychopathology, and suicide phenotypes (ideation, plans, and attempts). RESULTS DNA methylation at the previously implicated SKA2 CpG locus (cg13989295) was associated with current and lifetime symptoms of internalizing (but not externalizing) disorders. SKA2 methylation levels also predicted higher rates of current suicidal thoughts and behaviors, even after including well-established psychiatric risk factors for suicide in the model. Associations between PTSD and SKA2 were not significant, and genetic variation at the methylation-associated SNP (rs7208505) was not related to any of the phenotypes examined. CONCLUSIONS SKA2 methylation may index a general propensity to experience stress-related psychopathology, including internalizing disorders and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This study demonstrates that SKA2 methylation levels explain unique variance in suicide risk not captured by clinical symptom interviews, providing further evidence of its potential utility as a biomarker of suicide risk and stress-related psychopathology.
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Abstract
We reviewed the literature from 2010 to 2016 on the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cardiometabolic health conditions, including metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease, stroke, and myocardial infarction, among others. Collectively, PTSD was associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic health problems, with pre-clinical and clinical studies offering evidence of behavioral (e.g., poor sleep, cigarette use, poor diet and insufficient exercise) and biological (e.g., autonomic reactivity, inflammation) mediators of these associations. We discuss the possibility that these behavioral and biological mechanisms lead to accelerated cellular aging, as regulated in the epigenome, which contributes to premature cardiometabolic health decline. This has implications for the assessment, prevention, and treatment of cardiometabolic conditions among those with PTSD. It also highlights the need to better understand the mechanisms linking PTSD to accelerated aging and to develop interventions to attenuate or reverse this phenomenon.
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Marx BP, Wolf EJ, Cornette MM, Schnurr PP, Rosen MI, Friedman MJ, Keane TM, Speroff T. Using the WHODAS 2.0 to Assess Functioning Among Veterans Seeking Compensation for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Psychiatr Serv 2015; 66:1312-7. [PMID: 26278226 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201400400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE One of the major changes in DSM-5 was removal of the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). To determine whether the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) is a suitable replacement for the GAF, this study compared how well the WHODAS 2.0 and the GAF measured functional impairment and other phenomena related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans applying for financial compensation (service connection) for PTSD. METHODS Clinicians evaluating veteran claimants administered the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and the WHODAS 2.0 to 177 veterans during their evaluations. Veterans also completed the Inventory of Psychosocial Functioning (IPF), a self-report measure of functional impairment, and received a GAF rating from the examiner. Actual benefit determinations and ratings were obtained. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that the WHODAS 2.0 and the IPF were stronger indicators of a latent variable reflecting functioning compared with the GAF. In receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, the WHODAS 2.0, IPF, and GAF all displayed similar ability to identify veterans with PTSD-related impairment assessed by the CAPS. Compared with the GAF, the WHODAS 2.0 and IPF were less strongly related to PTSD symptom severity and disability ratings by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, but these variables are typically influenced by GAF scores. CONCLUSIONS The WHODAS 2.0 and IPF are acceptable replacements for the GAF and can be used to assess functional impairment among veterans seeking compensation for PTSD.
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