engleski

Psychiatric Heredity and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Survey Study of War Veterans

Aim. To explore the prevalence and association between the psychiatric heredity (family history of psychiatric illness, alcohol dependence disorder, and suicidality) and established diagnosis of stress - related disorders in Croatian war veterans during psychiatric exam. Methods. The study included 415 war veterans who were psychiatrically assessed and diagnosed by the same psychiatrist during an expert examination for compensation seeking. Data were collected by a structured diagnostic procedure. Results. There was no significant correlation between psychiatric heredity (of psychiatric illness, alcohol dependence, or suicidality) and diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or post-traumatic stress disorder with comorbidity. Diagnoses of psychosis or psychosis with comorbidity were significantly correlated with psychiatric heredity in 11.1% veterans (p=0.023). There was a statistically significant correlation between the mothers' psychiatric illness and the patients' diagnoses: partial PTSD or partial PTSD with comorbidity in 10.4% (p=0.035), psychosis or psychosis with comorbidity in 11.3% (p=0.022) ; fathers' psychiatric illness and the patients' diagnoses: psychosis or psychosis with comorbidity in 13.0% (p=0.008), alcohol dependence or alcohol dependence with comorbidity in 16.6% (p=0.001) ; psychiatric illness in the primary family with the patients' psychosis or psychosis with comorbidity in 11.5% (p=0.019) ; alcohol dependence in the primary family with the patients' personality disorder or personality disorder with comorbidity in 9.9% (p=0.044) ; suicidality in the primary family and a diagnosis of personality disorder or personality disorder with comorbidity in 12.8% (p=0.009). Conclusion. Our study showed that psychiatric heredity might not be necessary for the individual exposed to severe combat related events to develop symptoms of PTSD. The survey confirmed that parental and familial positive history of psychiatric disorders puts the individual at higher risk for developing psychiatric illness or alcohol or drug dependence disorder.

psychiatric heredity; post-traumatic stress disorders; veterans; war; Croatia; comorbidity; personality disorders; psychosis; suicidality; alcohol dependence; psychiatric illness

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