PTSD And Depression Comorbidity Raise Risk Of Female Mortality

Post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression comorbidity are linked to psychobiological changes in women that can lead to chronic disease and death. When these two conditions occur in tandem, a comprehensive approach to treatment must be taken to counteract their dangerous and complex emotional, psychological, and physical impact.

Table of Contents

• Increased Mortality In Women With PTSD and Depression
• Adverse Childhood Experiences Linked To Inflammation In The Body
• PTSD Connected To Metabolic Dysfunction
• Health Conditions Linked To PTSD
• PTSD and Depression Increase Risk of Suicide
• Prevention of Health Risks Associated With PTSD

Increased Mortality In Women With PTSD and Depression

A new study shows that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) comorbidity can lead to physiological changes that cause serious illness and mortality in women.

An estimated 50% of women with PTSD also suffer from MDD. 1 out of every 2 women with this dual diagnosis have an increased risk of mortality.

A study of over 50,000 women were was conducted over 9 years period showed that women who suffer from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression have more than twice as likely to die from complications compared to women who had not experienced trauma or depression.

Furthermore, research suggests that the biological impact of PTSD and MDD comorbidity may represent a subtype of PTSD.

Adverse Childhood Experiences Linked To Inflammation In The Body

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to an increased risk of developing PTSD in adulthood. The psychobiology of ACEs can make some adults predisposed to inflammation in the body, putting them at greater risk for certain health conditions.

PTSD Connected To Metabolic Dysfunction

PTSD is linked to physiological changes associated with metabolic dysfunction connected with the development of various diseases, specifically:

• Changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal–axis
• Immune system dysfunction
• Oxidative stress
• Sleep disturbances, and
• Premature aging.

Researchers theorize that an increased discharge of cortisol by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in tandem with disruptions in the sympathetic nervous system can lead to irregularities in neurological and metabolic functioning.

Health Conditions Linked To PTSD

Numerous studies have shown that PTSD is linked to a range of adverse health outcomes, including:

• Hypertension
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Obesity
• Substance Use Disorders

PTSD and Depression Increase Risk of Suicide

Another health risk for women who experience PTSD and MDD is suicide. A 2009 study from Florida State University showed that women who experience both disorders are at greater risk for suicidal ideation and death by suicide.

Prevention Of Health Risks Associated With PTSD and Depression

It is imperative that women with PTSD and depression implement lifestyle changes to decrease the risk of mortality associated with their condition. Some effective actions include:

• Regular exercise
• Weight management
• Smoking abstinence
• Companionship

I developed the Coercive Trauma Recovery Method™ from seven years of direct professional work with survivors of coercive control and narcissistic abuse. The method is built on the recognition that coercive trauma is a specific category of injury — distinct in its neurological signature, its dismantling of identity, and what genuine recovery from it requires — and that survivors need a framework designed for that specific injury, not a generic approach adapted from it. I also offer expert coaching on how to prove coercive control in court. Book a free 15 minute consultation to learn more.

Summary

1 out of ever 2 women who suffer from co-occurring PTSD and MDD can experience psychobiological changes that cause 380% increase of death. Adverse childhood experiences can lead to inflammation in the body, which makes some people predisposed to illness and disease later in life. PTSD can cause metabolic dysfunction and systemic changes that lead to serious health conditions. Lifestyle changes are an important part of treatment.

Further Reading

• The Long-Term Consequences of Narcissistic Abuse
• The Neuroscience of Coercive Control–And How to Heal
• The Cycle of Narcissistic Abuse
• Psycho-Emotional Abuse: The Essential Guide
• The Complete Guide to Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
• Coercive Control & Femicide Research
• The Global Coercive Control Legislation Index
• The Global Femicide Legislation Index

Resources

1. Roberts AL, Kubzansky LD, Chibnik LB, Rimm EB, Koenen KC. Association of Posttraumatic Stress and Depressive Symptoms With Mortality in Women. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(12):e2027935. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.27935
2. Flory JD, Yehuda R. Comorbidity between post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder: alternative explanations and treatment considerations. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015 Jun;17(2):141-50. doi: 10.31887/DCNS.2015.17.2/jflory. PMID: 26246789; PMCID: PMC4518698
3. Masodkar K, Johnson J, Peterson MJ. A Review of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Obesity: Exploring the Link. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2016 Jan 7;18(1):10.4088/PCC.15r01848. doi: 10.4088/PCC.15r01848. PMID: 27247845; PMCID: PMC4874765.
4. Farr OM, Sloan DM, Keane TM, Mantzoros CS. Stress- and PTSD-associated obesity and metabolic dysfunction: a growing problem requiring further research and novel treatments. Metabolism. 2014 Dec;63(12):1463-8. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2014.08.009. Epub 2014 Aug 28. PMID: 25267015; PMCID: PMC4459590.
5. Brown, P. J., Stout, R. L., & Mueller, T. (1999). Substance use disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder comorbidity: Addiction and psychiatric treatment rates. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 13(2), 115–122. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-164X.13.2.115
6. Cougle JR, Resnick H, Kilpatrick DG. PTSD, depression, and their comorbidity in relation to suicidality: cross-sectional and prospective analyses of a national probability sample of women. Depress Anxiety. 2009;26(12):1151-7. doi: 10.1002/da.20621. PMID: 19842171.

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