Mediating Role of Anxiety and Depression in the Relationship between Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Illness Intrusiveness.
10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e284
- Author:
Nam Hee KIM
1
;
Seok Hyeon KIM
;
So Yeon HYUN
;
Dae Ryong KANG
;
Min Jung OH
;
Daeho KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, National Center for Mental Health, Seoul, Korea. nadianam@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Posttraumatic Stress;
Anxiety;
Depression;
Illness Intrusiveness;
Psychological Trauma
- MeSH:
Anxiety*;
Depression*;
Hope;
Humans;
Negotiating*;
Outpatients;
Psychological Trauma;
Quality of Life
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2018;33(45):e284-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in patients with psychological trauma lead to poor health-related quality of life. Understanding of the relationships among PTSS, anxiety, depression, and illness intrusiveness will guide the development of efficient approaches to enhance subjective well-being in patients with psychological trauma. This study investigated whether anxiety and depression mediate the relationship between PTSS and illness intrusiveness in the hope of providing more comprehensive and effective trauma treatment. METHODS: Psychiatric outpatients who visited the trauma clinic of a university hospital (n = 260) participated in this study. Assessments were conducted for PTSS, anxiety, depression, and illness intrusiveness. Structural equation modeling and path analysis were performed to analyze the mediating effects of anxiety and depression on the relationship between PTSS and illness intrusiveness. RESULTS: PTSS had both direct and indirect exacerbating effects on illness intrusiveness. Anxiety exhibited the largest direct exacerbating effect on illness intrusiveness. The indirect effects of PTSS on illness intrusiveness through anxiety alone and through a depression-to-anxiety pathway were significant, but the indirect effect through depression alone was not. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate that anxiety, both independently and as part of an interrelated pathway with depression, partially mediates the relationship between PTSS and illness intrusiveness. Appropriate interventions and a comprehensive approach to alleviate anxiety and depression could mitigate the negative effects of PTSS on illness intrusiveness in patients with psychological trauma.
