Coexisting patterns of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms in college students who experienced childhood maltreatment: Different types of maltreatment exposure

Background: Childhood maltreatment is often associated with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, but the impact of different types of maltreatment on this comorbidity is not well understood. Methods: Using network analysis, we examined differences in comorbidity patterns of PTSD and depression symptoms among college students who experienced different forms of childhood maltreatment. We selected a subsample of 2968 students (Mage = 19.38, SD = +/- 1.45) who reported exposure to childhood maltreatment from a larger sample of 5231 students. Results: This study showed that symptoms of negative emotions and cognitive change, intrusive symptoms, and increased alertness might play a significant role in the diagnosis and prognosis of comorbid PTSD and depression. The most central nodes in the network of physical maltreatment were flashbacks, and irritability, whereas the most central nodes in the network of emotional and compound trauma, were low mood and sadness. Moreover, network structure and strength differed significantly between maltreatment types, and differences in specific symptom associations were also observed. Conclusion: Network analysis provides insights into which symptoms contribute to the development of comorbidities in individuals with different childhood maltreatment types, as well as how specific symptoms are interconnected in the network. This information can aid in developing targeted and effective interventions for different maltreatment forms.