BackgroundWe examined psychiatric morbidity following war-related psychic trauma, with a special focus on the depressive comorbidity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).MethodSubjects consisted of 60 Israeli veterans who sought psychiatric treatment 4–6 years after having been exposed to war trauma. PTSD and psychiatric comorbidity were diagnosed using the Structured Interview for PTSD and the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia.ResultsBoth lifetime (100%) and current (87%) PTSD were the most prevalent disorders. Comorbidity was extensive, with major depressive disorder (MDD) most prevalent (95% lifetime, 50% current), followed by anxiety disorders, minor affective disorders, and alcoholism or drug misuse.ConclusionsWithin post-traumatic psychiatric morbidity of combat origin, PTSD and MDD are the most prevalent disorders. In addition it appears that PTSD, although related to post-traumatic MDD beyond a mere sharing of common symptoms, is of the same time differentiated from it as an independent diagnostic category.
