Abstract
Background: The 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) includes adjustment disorder (AjD) as a stress-related disorder alongside other disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD). This study investigated prevalence rates, construct validity, predictors, and outcomes of ICD-11 AjD in the context of PTSD and CPTSD among German-speaking Swiss older adults.
Methods: Participants were 1,158 German-speaking Swiss adults (65+) who had experienced at least one life stressor and potentially traumatic event (PTE). Prevalence rates of AjD, PTSD, and CPTSD were estimated, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess their latent structure. Demographic, stressor-related, and PTE-related predictors were then examined.
Results: Prevalence rates in the sample were 0.4% for PTSD, 2.8% for CPTSD, and 17.9% for AjD. After excluding potential PTSD and CPTSD cases, AjD prevalence dropped to 15.9%. CFA results indicated the best fit was a second-order model with correlated latent factors for AjD, PTSD, and DSO. Female gender and older age were positively linked to AjD and PTSD, while total PTEs and life stressors were positively associated with all latent factors. PTE scores were most strongly related to PTSD, and stressor scores to the DSO latent factor.
Discussion: AjD is a common mental health condition among older adults in Switzerland, distinct from yet related to PTSD and CPTSD. Given that AjD is a poorly understood mental health disorder, particular among older adults, future research is required to expand understanding of the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes associated with the disorder.
Methods: Participants were 1,158 German-speaking Swiss adults (65+) who had experienced at least one life stressor and potentially traumatic event (PTE). Prevalence rates of AjD, PTSD, and CPTSD were estimated, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess their latent structure. Demographic, stressor-related, and PTE-related predictors were then examined.
Results: Prevalence rates in the sample were 0.4% for PTSD, 2.8% for CPTSD, and 17.9% for AjD. After excluding potential PTSD and CPTSD cases, AjD prevalence dropped to 15.9%. CFA results indicated the best fit was a second-order model with correlated latent factors for AjD, PTSD, and DSO. Female gender and older age were positively linked to AjD and PTSD, while total PTEs and life stressors were positively associated with all latent factors. PTE scores were most strongly related to PTSD, and stressor scores to the DSO latent factor.
Discussion: AjD is a common mental health condition among older adults in Switzerland, distinct from yet related to PTSD and CPTSD. Given that AjD is a poorly understood mental health disorder, particular among older adults, future research is required to expand understanding of the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes associated with the disorder.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Traumatology |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 17 May 2025 |
Keywords
- PTSD
- CPTSD
- Adjustment Disorder
- Prevalence
- Older Adults
