Lifetime psychiatric comorbidity rate in Israeli non-help-seeking patients with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder

Background: Most of the data on lifetime psychiatric comorbidity in combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CR-PTSD) were collected in help-seeking patients. Methods: In the present study we used the Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia-Lifetime Version to examine a relatively large sample (n=80) of Israeli non-help-seeking CR-PTSD patients. The diagnosis of PTSD was based on the DSM-III-R criteria. Results: We found a low rate of lifetime psychiatric comorbidity, especially drug dependence (2.25%), alcoholism (2.25%) and major depressive disorders (5%). Conclusion: It seems that in contrast to help-seeking CR-PTSD, non-help-seeking CR-PTSD is associated with a low frequency of comorbid psychiatric disorders. Limitation: Only non-help seeking CR-PTSD patients who agreed to participate in the study were included in this investigation. Clinical relevance: The detection and diagnosis of CR-PTSD comorbidity is important for establishing appropriate psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatment.