PTSD and depression construct: prevalence and predictors of co-occurrence in a South Lebanese civilian sample

Armed conflict, occupation, and political and economic instability that are particularly experienced by the civilian Lebanese population of South Lebanon would almost inevitably affect these individuals psychologically. Therefore, identifying predictors of co-occurring mental disorders is paramount to sound assessment and intervention planning. This study aims to determine the prevalence and predictors of co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) in a post-war population from South Lebanon. A total of 991 citizens from 10 villages were interviewed using a cross-sectional design through random sampling. The prevalence of PTSD, MDD, or both was 23.4%. To identify predictors of PTSD and depression co-occurrence, multinomial logistic regression was used. Participants were divided into four groups (participants with no PTSD or depression, participants with PTSD only, participants with depression only, and participants with PTSD–depression comorbidity). Among the significant predictors of PTSD–depression co-occurrence, female gender, health problems, social life events, and witnessed traumatic events were most consistently found. Additionally, employment and educational status, as well as social support, were found to significantly predict co-occurrence. Results reveal the distinct risk and protective factors that characterize the PTSD-depression profile. These findings will hopefully assist in the development of interventions that are sensitive to individuals’ psychosocial milieu. Identifying predictors of PTSD-depression co-occurrence is paramount to sound assessment and intervention planning. Comorbidity was most strongly predicted by female gender, health problems, social life events, and HTQ witnessed events. Unemployment, having below secondary education, and low social support were also found to predict comorbidity. The substantial overlap in the risk factor profiles that were observed may suggest that PTSD and MDD co-occurrence represent a single general construct derived from traumatic stress.

黎巴嫩南部平民长期经受武装冲突、军事占领以及政治经济动荡，此类境遇几乎必然会对其心理产生负面影响。因此，明确共病精神障碍的预测因素，对于开展规范的评估与干预规划至关重要。本研究旨在探究黎巴嫩战后南部人群中创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）与重度抑郁症（MDD）共病的患病率及其预测因素。本研究采用横断面设计，通过随机抽样对来自10个村庄的991名居民进行了访谈。结果显示，单纯罹患PTSD、单纯罹患MDD或两者共病的总体患病率为23.4%。为识别PTSD与抑郁共病的预测因素，本研究采用多项逻辑回归分析，将参与者分为四组：无PTSD或抑郁者、仅患PTSD者、仅患抑郁者以及PTSD-MDD共病者。在PTSD与抑郁共病的显著预测因素中，女性性别、健康问题、社会生活事件以及目击创伤事件是最为稳定的预测指标。此外，就业与教育状况以及社会支持也被证实可显著预测共病的发生。研究结果揭示了能够区分PTSD-抑郁共病特征的风险与保护因素。本研究结果有望助力开发贴合个体社会心理环境的干预方案。明确PTSD与抑郁共病的预测因素，对于规范的评估与干预规划至关重要。共病发生的最强预测因素包括女性性别、健康问题、社会生活事件以及HTQ目击创伤事件。此外，失业、中等教育以下学历以及低水平社会支持同样可预测共病的发生。本研究观察到的风险因素谱存在显著重叠，这提示PTSD与MDD共病或许代表了一种源自创伤应激的单一通用心理结构。