NCJ Number
178833
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: September 1999 Pages: 227-249
Date Published
September 1999
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study examined the co-occurrence and correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression in 92 women who had been physically abused (e.g., pushing, shoving, and punching) by their spouses within the past year.
Abstract
There were three study objectives: to document rates and co- occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), to identify predictors of PTSD and depression symptom frequency/severity, and to systematically assess disorder-specific group differences in marital-related and marital-violence-related factors. Within the month prior to assessment, 29.8 percent of the sample met diagnostic criteria for PTSD, and 32 percent met the criteria for MDD. MDD and PTSD were significantly, but moderately, correlated at both the symptom and diagnostic levels; however, PTSD symptom frequency and depression symptom severity were predicted by different marital-related and marital-violent-related factors. PTSD symptoms were predicted by a spouse's dominance/isolation tactics and intensity of husband-to-wife physical aggression, and depressive symptoms were predicted by marital discord and intensity of husband-to-wife physical aggression. Comorbid women and those with PTSD only reported significantly more spousal fear and husband-to-wife physical aggression than those with MDD only or neither disorder. No group differences were found on rate of marital discord or spouse's controlling/isolating tactics. Results are discussed in terms of theoretical and treatment implications for abused women seeking treatment for marital conflict. 4 tables and 58 references