Publications [#44944] of Kathryn Whetten

Journal Articles

  1. Leserman, J., K. Whetten, K. Lowe, D. Stangl, M. Swartz, N.M. Thielman. "How Trauma, Recent Stressful Events and PTSD Impact Functional Health Status and Health Utilization in HIV-Infected Patients in the South." Psychosomatic Medicine 67.3 (2005): 500-507.
    (last updated on 2006/01/07)

    Abstract:
    Objective: Psychosocial research in HIV has had almost an exclusive focus on predicting biological markers of HIV disease progression; however, health-related quality of life and use of health services may also be important indicators of HIV disease progression. The current study examines how trauma, severe stressful events, PTSD and depressive symptoms are related to health-related quality of life (e.g., physical functioning) and health utilization in HIV-infected men and women living in rural areas of the south. Methods: We collected data on 611 consecutive patients from 8 rural HIV clinics in 5 southern states. Results: We found that patients with more lifetime trauma, stressful events and PTSD symptoms reported worse health-related quality of life, including more bodily pain, and poorer physical, role and cognitive functioning. Trauma, recent stressful events and PTSD explained from 12% to 27% of the variance in health-related functioning, over and above that explained by demographic variables. In addition, patients with more trauma, including sexual and physical abuse, and PTSD symptoms were at greater risk for having bed disability, an overnight hospitalization, an emergency room visit, and four or more HIV outpatient clinic visits in the previous nine months. Patients with a history of abuse had about twice the risk of spending five or more days in bed, having an overnight hospital stay, and visiting the emergency room, compared to those without abuse. The effects of trauma and stress were largely explained by increases in current PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of addressing past trauma, stress and current PTSD within clinical care.

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