Correlates of Lifetime Exposure to One or More Potentially Traumatic Events and Subsequent Posttraumatic Stress among Adults in the United States: Results from the Mental Health Surveillance Study, 2008-2012

With growing recognition of the impact of trauma exposure on behavioral health outcomes, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is interested in defining and measuring trauma, describing the characteristics of those exposed to one or more potentially traumatic events (PTEs), and evaluating associations with mental health and substance use issues. The 2008-2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Mental Health Surveillance Study (MHSS) defined and measured posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as part of an effort to estimate serious mental illness among adults in the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population. The module on PTSD collected as part of the MHSS can be used to measure lifetime exposure to one or more PTEs, as well as subsequent posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), including symptom clusters that meet criteria for past year PTSD among adults. This report uses NSDUH and MHSS data to examine the characteristics of adults exposed to one or more lifetime PTEs and adults who experience subsequent PTSS and to study the association among PTEs, PTSS, and physical and behavioral health conditions.Adults with exposure to one or more lifetime PTEs were more likely to be older, to be not Hispanic/Latino white, to be veterans, or to have certain health conditions (asthma, high blood pressure, sinusitis, ulcer, anxiety, and depression). Estimates of lifetime and past year illicit drug use were higher among adults who were exposed to one or more PTEs in their lifetime than among those who were unexposed. Past month binge drinking and heavy drinking were also more likely among adults exposed to one or more PTEs in their lifetime than among adults without exposure. Adults exposed to one or more lifetime PTEs were more likely to have mental illness, serious psychological distress, major depressive episodes, and suicidal thoughts in the past year. They were also more likely to have used mental health services. Significant substance use and mental health correlates of PTSS among adults exposed to one or more lifetime PTEs were similar to those identified as significant correlates of exposure to PTEs among all adults.Information from this report may aid SAMHSA initiatives to address the needs of people with behavioral health problems by identifying potential targets for prevention, treatment, and recovery and resiliency support services for trauma exposure and related sequelae.