Persistence and clinical consequences of post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms in people with depressive symptoms: a one-year follow-up study

Abstract

Background: Recent studies found that post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms are common in people with depressive symptoms. Although a trauma-related subtype of depression has been proposed, little is known about the persistence and clinical consequences of these symptoms. Objective: This one-year follow-up study investigated the persistence and clinical consequences of post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms in people with depressive symptoms. Methods: We analyzed longitudinal data from an international sample of people self-reporting depressive emotions ( N = 152) (mean Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score = 17.27; SD = 6.31). Results: More than half (58.4%) of participants with baseline post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) still met the criteria for PTSD after one year. Participants with dissociative symptoms at baseline were significantly more likely to report lifetime psychiatric hospitalization (31.2% vs 14.7%), past-year use of psychiatric hospitalization (10.4% vs 0%) and emergency services (16.9% vs 4%) than those without dissociative symptoms. All post-traumatic and dissociative symptom clusters were cross-sectionally ( r = .286 to .528, p < .001) and longitudinally ( r = .181 to .462, p < .001) correlated with depressive symptoms. A sense of current threat ( β = .146, p < .05) and negative self-concept ( β = .173, p < .05) at baseline significantly predicted depressive symptoms after one year. Conclusions: These findings contribute to the increasing body of knowledge regarding the PTSD/dissociation-depression comorbidity. Given their persistence and clinical consequences, we recommend that post-traumatic and dissociative symptoms be regularly screened for in clinical settings. The existence of a possible trauma-related subtype of depression should receive more attention in both research and clinical practice.

Dissociative symptoms among community health service users in Hong Kong: a longitudinal study of clinical course and consequences

“…In this 9-month study, we found that 63.6% of participants with baseline dissociative symptoms continued to exhibit dissociative symptoms at follow-up. This figure is similar to those reported in another recent study with a sample of English-speaking adults with self-reported depressive symptoms ( N = 152) – in that study, 58.4% of participants with clinically significant dissociation (Multiscale Dissociation Inventory [MDI] ≥ 67) at baseline remained to score 67 or above on the MDI after one year (Fung, Chau, et al, 2023 ). The persistence rates (58.4% to 63.6%) in these two clinically and socioculturally different samples, while consistent, are much higher than those reported in the Finnish sample (28.6%) (Maaranen, 2008 ).…”

The relationship between internet gaming disorder, sleeping quality, self-compassion, physical activity participation and psychological distress: A path analysis

“…Participants with a clinical diagnosis of a reading disorder, dementia or intellectual disabilities were excluded. The methodology, including part of the baseline data, has been published elsewhere (Fung et al, 2023).…”