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. 2022 Aug;272(5):897-908.
doi: 10.1007/s00406-021-01342-z. Epub 2021 Oct 11.

Co-occurrence of severe PTSD, somatic symptoms and dissociation in a large sample of childhood trauma inpatients: a network analysis

Leonhard Kratzer #  1 , Matthias Knefel #  2 , Alexander Haselgruber  3 , Peter Heinz  1 , Rebecca Schennach  4   5 , Thanos Karatzias  6   7
Affiliations

Co-occurrence of severe PTSD, somatic symptoms and dissociation in a large sample of childhood trauma inpatients: a network analysis

Leonhard Kratzer et al. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Co-occurrence of mental disorders including severe PTSD, somatic symptoms, and dissociation in the aftermath of trauma is common and sometimes associated with poor treatment outcomes. However, the interrelationships between these conditions at symptom level are not well understood. In the present study, we aimed to explore direct connections between PTSD, somatic symptoms, and dissociation to gain a deeper insight into the pathological processes underlying their comorbidity that can inform future treatment plans. In a sample of 655 adult inpatients with a diagnosis of severe PTSD following childhood abuse (85.6% female; mean age = 47.57), we assessed symptoms of PTSD, somatization, and dissociation. We analyzed the comorbidity structure using a partial correlation network with regularization. Mostly positive associations between symptoms characterized the network structure. Muscle or joint pain was among the most central symptoms. Physiological reactivation was central in the full network and together with concentrations problems acted as bridge between symptoms of PTSD and somatic symptoms. Headaches connected somatic symptoms with others and derealization connected dissociative symptoms with others in the network. Exposure to traumatic events has a severe and detrimental effect on mental and physical health and these consequences worsen each other trans-diagnostically on a symptom level. Strong connections between physiological reactivation and pain with other symptoms could inform treatment target prioritization. We recommend a dynamic, modular approach to treatment that should combine evidence-based interventions for PTSD and comorbid conditions which is informed by symptom prominence, readiness to address these symptoms and preference.

Keywords: Comorbidity; Dissociative disorders; Pain; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Somatization.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Network of symptoms of PTSD, somatization, and dissociation
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Centrality estimates
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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