Subthreshold PTSD: A Comparison of Alcohol, Depression, and Health Problems in Canadian Peacekeepers with Different Levels of Traumatic Stress

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with depression, alcohol use disorders and physical health problems. Subthreshold posttraumatic syndromes may contribute to these problems. Participants were previously deployed male peacekeepers who completed a battery of questionnaires, including measures of PTSD symptoms, depression, alcohol use, and physical health. Statistically significant differences were found 1) between groups with full and no PTSD on depressive symptoms, alcohol use disorders, and physical health problems, and 2) between subthreshold and no PTSD groups on depression and physical health problems. Results suggest subthreshold PTSD represents a distinct construct warranting further investigation.