Chronic Somatic Diseases associated with higher incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder

Germany: A new study found that there is a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms (PTSS) in chronic somatic diseases (CD) patients. The study results were published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry. 

The chronic somatic disease is affecting the majority of adults globally and affects their quality of life. It is associated with a multitude of challenges due to complex treatment plans and also stress, anxiety and depression. As there is limited research on the prevalence and incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms (PTSS) in people with chronic somatic diseases (CD), Frederike Lunkenheimer et al from the University of Ulm, Germany conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine prevalence and incidence of PTSD and PTSS in people with CD compared with people without CD. 

Databases like MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO were searched from inception (1946) to June 2020. As per the PRISMA guidelines, studies reporting point, 12-month, lifetime prevalence, or 12-month incidence of PTSD and PTSS in people with CD were selected and reviewed by two independent reviewers. A combination of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration for non-comparative studies were used to assess the risk of bias. Random effects meta-analyses were used to calculate the Pooled estimates. The I2 statistic was used to assess the between-study heterogeneity.