What question did this study set out to answer?

To quantify the overall association and evaluate potential moderators between reported psychological trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and functional somatic syndromes.

December 13, 2013Psychosomatic MedicineOpen Access

Psychological Trauma and Functional Somatic Syndromes

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Authors

NANiloofar AfariUniversity of California, San Diego SASandra M. AhumadaUniversity of Minnesota LWLisa Johnson WrightTrinity School of Medicine

Discussion

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Implication

Meta-analysis demonstrates increased risk of functional somatic syndromes following psychological trauma and PTSD, indicating substantial links between traumatic stress and physical illness.

Key Points

To quantify the overall association and evaluate potential moderators between reported psychological trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and functional somatic syndromes.
Systematically reviewed 71 controlled studies examining traumatic events (childhood or adulthood abuse, combat exposure) or PTSD in relation to functional somatic syndromes.
Calculated pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals using a random-effects model, supplemented by subgroup analyses and meta-regression.
Reported trauma exposure was strongly associated with functional somatic syndromes, yielding a pooled OR of 2.7 (95% CI = 2.27–3.10).
Effect sizes were significantly larger for PTSD than for physical or sexual abuse, and stronger for chronic fatigue syndrome than for irritable bowel syndrome or fibromyalgia.
Studies employing self-report measures or nonvalidated trauma questionnaires demonstrated significantly larger effect sizes than those using validated instruments.

Cite This Study

Afari et al. (2013) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69f50306d3e5a869b14b5b68 https://doi.org/10.1097/psy.0000000000000010

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Implication

Meta-analysis demonstrates increased risk of functional somatic syndromes following psychological trauma and PTSD, indicating substantial links between traumatic stress and physical illness.