Frueh BC, Grubaugh AL, Yeager DE, Magruder KM. Delayed-onset post-traumatic stress disorder among war veterans in primary care clinics.
Br J Psychiatry 2009;
194:515-20. [PMID:
19478290 PMCID:
PMC2746686 DOI:
10.1192/bjp.bp.108.054700]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Only limited empirical data support the existence of delayed-onset post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
AIMS
To expand our understanding of delayed-onset PTSD prevalence and phenomenology.
METHOD
A cross-sectional, epidemiological design (n = 747) incorporating structured interviews to obtain relevant information for analyses in a multisite study of military veterans.
RESULTS
A small percentage of veterans with identified current PTSD (8.3%, 7/84), current subthreshold PTSD (6.9%, 2/29), and lifetime PTSD only (5.4%, 2/37) met criteria for delayed onset with PTSD symptoms initiating more than 6 months after the index trauma. Altogether only 0.4% (3/747) of the entire sample had current PTSD with delayed-onset symptoms developing more than 1 year after trauma exposure, and no PTSD symptom onset was reported more than 6 years post-trauma.
CONCLUSIONS
Retrospective reports of veterans reveal that delayed-onset PTSD (current, subthreshold or lifetime) is extremely rare 1 year post-trauma, and there was no evidence of PTSD symptom onset 6 or more years after trauma exposure.
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