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Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 61. No. 2, 2022.

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2022.61.02.16

The Incidence of Comorbid Mental and Physical Conditions in Patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Marija Vučić Peitl ; Department of Psychiatry, Rijeka University Hospital Center, Rijeka, Croatia; Department of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Diana Palaić ; Department of Psychiatry, Rijeka University Hospital Center, Rijeka, Croatia
Fadil Habibović ; Department of Psychiatry, Rijeka University Hospital Center, Rijeka, Croatia
Bernard Šešo ; Society for Research and Support, Rijeka, Croatia

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Abstract

There is a small body of research about mental and physical comorbidity in
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients despite the fact that some psychiatric disorders and
physical conditions are commonly comorbid with PTSD. In this study, we researched the relationship
between PTSD and its mental and physical comorbidities by comparing the number of patient
hospitalizations across two ten-year periods. Our sample consisted of 2761 patients with warfare
PTSD hospitalized during the 20-year period (1999-2018). The results confirmed a higher number
of hospitalizations in the 2009-2018 period than in the 1999-2008 period for the group of PTSD
patients with both mental and physical comorbidity. Furthermore, no significant difference was found
in the number of hospitalizations between the two ten-year periods for the group of PTSD patients
with mental comorbidity. We argued that both mental and physical comorbidities along with PTSD
are needed to induce a significantly higher level of distress in patients, resulting in a higher number of
hospitalizations after a longer period of time. Patients with the most severe conditions and comorbidity
have a greater need to seek help from mental health professionals as their mental and physical state
deteriorates to a higher degree when not in the treatment of any kind.

Keywords

Post-traumatic stress disorder; Metabolic syndrome; Comorbidity; Hospitalization; Veterans

Hrčak ID:

284791

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/284791

Publication date:

1.8.2022.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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