ICD-11 complex post-traumatic stress disorder and psychiatric comorbidity among UK Armed Forces veterans in Northern Ireland: a latent class analysis

Background: There is evidence to suggest that the experience of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) may be commonly associated with elevated risk for several mental ill-health comorbidities.
Objective: The current study seeks to contribute to the growing literature on C-PTSD comorbidity by examining the relationship between C-PTSD and other mental health disorders in a UK Armed Forces veteran sample.
Method: This study used data from the Northern Ireland Veterans’ Health and Wellbeing Study (NIVHWS). The effective sample consisted of 638 veterans (90.0% male). Tetrachoric correlations examined the relationship between C-PTSD caseness and other mental health outcomes. Latent class analysis was then conducted, determining the optimal number and nature of classes in the sample in relation to C-PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicidality.
Results: C-PTSD caseness (i.e. probable diagnosis) was found to be significantly associated with positive caseness of depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Overall, four latent classes emerged, with each of these classes characterized by varying degrees of comorbidity: a ‘Resilient/Low Comorbidity’ class, a ‘Lifetime Suicidal’ class, a ‘PTSD Polymorbid’ class, and a ‘C-PTSD Polymorbid’ class.
Conclusions These findings support and extend previous results indicating the highly comorbid nature of C-PTSD. C-PTSD may be considered a highly polymorbid condition, increasing the risk for multiple mental health pathologies concurrently.

The results showed that probable complex PTSD was associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidality in this military veteran sample.
Latent class analysis revealed that probable complex PTSD was associated with multiple conditions concurrently, suggesting that complex PTSD is not only highly comorbid but polymorbid.
The findings highlight the importance of screening for multiple pathologies, particularly in cases of probable complex PTSD.

The results showed that probable complex PTSD was associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidality in this military veteran sample.
Latent class analysis revealed that probable complex PTSD was associated with multiple conditions concurrently, suggesting that complex PTSD is not only highly comorbid but polymorbid.
The findings highlight the importance of screening for multiple pathologies, particularly in cases of probable complex PTSD.

背景：现有证据表明，复杂创伤后应激障碍（Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, C-PTSD）的患病体验常与多种精神健康共病的风险升高存在显著关联。
研究目的：本研究旨在为日益增长的C-PTSD共病相关研究文献做出补充，在英国武装部队退伍军人样本中探究C-PTSD与其他精神障碍之间的关联。
研究方法：本研究采用北爱尔兰退伍军人健康与福祉研究（Northern Ireland Veterans’ Health and Wellbeing Study, NIVHWS）的数据。有效样本共纳入638名退伍军人，其中男性占比90.0%。研究通过四分相关分析检验了C-PTSD病例状态与其他精神健康结局之间的关联；随后开展潜类别分析，确定样本中针对C-PTSD、抑郁、焦虑及自杀倾向的最优类别数量与各类别的特征。
研究结果：经分析发现，C-PTSD病例状态（即疑似诊断）与抑郁、焦虑及自杀倾向的阳性确诊病例存在显著关联。最终共得到4个潜类别，各类别均以不同程度的共病特征为标识，分别为「适应良好/低共病」组、「终生自杀倾向」组、「创伤后应激障碍多共病」组以及「C-PTSD多共病」组。
研究结论：本研究结果支持并拓展了此前的研究结论，即C-PTSD具有高度共病的特征。C-PTSD可被视为一种高度多共病的病症，会同时增加罹患多种精神病理障碍的风险。

研究结果显示，在该退伍军人样本中，疑似复杂创伤后应激障碍与抑郁、焦虑及自杀倾向存在显著关联。
潜类别分析结果表明，疑似复杂创伤后应激障碍同时与多种病症存在关联，这提示复杂创伤后应激障碍不仅具有高度共病性，还呈现多共病特征。
该研究结果凸显了对多种精神病理障碍进行筛查的重要性，尤其针对疑似复杂创伤后应激障碍的病例。

研究结果显示，在该退伍军人样本中，疑似复杂创伤后应激障碍与抑郁、焦虑及自杀倾向存在显著关联。
潜类别分析揭示，疑似复杂创伤后应激障碍同时与多种病症存在关联，提示复杂创伤后应激障碍不仅具有高度共病性，还具备多共病特征。
该研究结果强调了针对多种精神病理障碍开展筛查的重要性，尤其在疑似复杂创伤后应激障碍的病例中尤为关键。