Gender differences in DSM-5 versus DSM-IV-TR PTSD prevalence and criteria comparison among 512 survivors to the L׳Aquila earthquake

Background: Post-traumatic StressDisorder(PTSD)hasdemonstratedgender-specific prevalenceand expressionsacrossthedifferentDSMdefinitions, sinceits first introductioninDSM-III.TheDSM-5 recentlyintroducedimportantrevisionstoPTSDsymptomatologicalcriteria.Aimofthepresentstudyis to explorewhethergendermoderatesratesofDSM-5PTSDexpressioninanon-clinicalsampleof survivorstoamassiveearthquakeinItaly. Methods: 512survivorsoftheL'Aquila2009earthquake,previouslyinvestigatedforthepresence DSM-IV-TRPTSD,werereassessedaccordingtoDSM-5criteriainordertoexploregenderdifferences. All subjectscompletedtheTraumaandLossSpectrum-SelfReport(TALS-SR). Results: Femalesshowedsignificantly higherDSM-5PTSDratesandratesofendorsementofalmostall DSM-5 PTSDcriteria.Significant genderdifferencesemergedinalmosthalfofPTSDsymptomatological criteria withwomenreportinghigherratesin8ofthem,whilemeninonlyone(anewsymptominDSM- 5: recklessorself-destructivebehavior). ConsideringtheimpactofthethreenewDSM-5symptomsonthe diagnosis, significant genderdifferencesemergedwiththesebeingcrucialinalmosthalfofthePTSD diagnoses inmalesbutinaboutone-fourthinfemales.ByusingROCcurves,DSM-5criteriaEandD showedthehighestAUCvaluesinmales(.876)andfemales(.837),respectively. Limitations: The useofself-reportinstrument;noinformationoncomorbidity;homogeneityofstudy sample; lackofassessmentonfunctionalimpairment. Conclusions: This studyprovidesacontributiontotheongoingneedforreassessmentonhowgender moderatesratesofexpressionofparticulardisorderssuchasPTSD