Health-related quality of life in posttraumatic stress disorder: 4 years follow-up study of individuals exposed to urban violence

Author(s)

Pupo, Mariana Cadrobbi ^[1] ; Serafim, Paula Maria ^[1] ; de Mello, Marcelo Feijo ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psychiat, BR-04023061 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH; v. 228, n. 3, p. 741-745, AUG 30 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Evidence suggests that Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is associated with substantially reduced Health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to explore the impact of PTSD symptoms in HRQoL and its predictors in individuals exposed to urban violence. We follow-up a cohort of 267 individuals exposed to urban violence, derived from an epidemiological survey and clinical cases from an outpatient program of victims of violence, with and without PTSD, by assessing symptoms and other measures at two intervals, approximately 4 years apart. PTSD symptom severity was associated with poorer quality of life at baseline and at follow-up. Higher levels of depression and anxiety, new trauma experiences, more traumas in childhood and more PTSD arousal symptoms were all predictors of lower HRQoL over time. Results strongly suggest the need to assess HRQoL in addition to symptoms in order to assess the true severity of PTSD. These results have implications for the functional recovery in the treatment of PTSD. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/07432-5 - Follow-up of a cohort of victims of violence derived from an epidemiological study: analysis outcomes, related to brain structures, genetics, and neuropsychological function, and clinical features
• Grantee: Marcelo Feijó de Mello
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 04/15039-0 - Post-traumatic stress disorder: epidemiology, physiopathology and treatment
• Grantee: Jair de Jesus Mari
• Support type: Research Projects - Thematic Grants