PTSD and physical comorbidity among women receiving Medicaid: Results from service-use data

J. S. Seng
M. Kathleen Clark, University of Iowa
Ann Marie McCarthy, University of Iowa
D. L. Ronis

Abstract

Patterns of physicalcomorbidiry among women with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were explored using Michigan Medicaid claims data. PTSD-diagnosed women (n = 2,133) were compared with 14,948 randomly selected women in three health outcome areas: ICD-9 categories of disease, chronic conditions associated with sexual assault history in previous research, and reproductive health conditions. PTSD was associated with increased risk of all categories of diseases (OR range = 1.3-4.8), endometriosis (OR = 2.7), and dyspareunia (OR = 3.4). When PTSD was not complicated by other mental health conditions, odds ratios for chronic conditions ranged from 1. 9 for fibromyalgia to 4.3 for irritable bowel. Comorbidity with depression or a dissociative or borderline personality disorder raised risk in a dose-response pattern.