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12-03-2025 | Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Original Article

Network analysis of PTSD symptoms following childbirth and comorbid conditions among women with sexual trauma history

Authors: Gabriella E. Hamlett, Shaan F. McGhie, Gabriella Dishy, Sabrina J. Chan, Richard J. McNally, Sharon Dekel

Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health

Abstract

Purpose

Women with a history of sexual trauma (ST) have heightened risk for postpartum psychopathology. Although ST increases risk for traumatic delivery and maternal psychopathology, knowledge of the functional connections among various psychiatric symptoms and complicated delivery remains limited.

Methods

We used regularized partial correlation networks to examine connections between symptoms of childbirth-related PTSD (CB-PTSD), depression, anxiety, somatization, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and complicated delivery (e.g., presence of obstetric complications, preterm birth, advanced maternal age) in 1,916 postpartum women. We compared networks of women with and without a history of sexual trauma (n_ST = 958 and n_NST = 958, respectively).

Results

Complicated delivery in both groups connected with three CB-PTSD clusters: reexperiencing, avoidance, and negative alterations in cognition and mood. Network comparison tests revealed a significant difference in global strength invariance, but not network invariance. ST network CB-PTSD nodes were significantly more strongly interconnected as compared to those with no ST (NST). Conversely, stronger connections in the NST network were Mood with Anxiety and Avoidance with Somatic symptoms.

Conclusion

The ST group’s stronger PTSD symptom coactivation may reflect differences in risk for the emergence of CB-PTSD for women with a history of ST.

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Title: Network analysis of PTSD symptoms following childbirth and comorbid conditions among women with sexual trauma history
Authors: Gabriella E. Hamlett
Shaan F. McGhie
Gabriella Dishy
Sabrina J. Chan
Richard J. McNally
Sharon Dekel
Publication date: 12-03-2025
Publisher: Springer Vienna
Keywords: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Published in: Archives of Women's Mental Health
Print ISSN: 1434-1816
Electronic ISSN: 1435-1102
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-025-01570-5

Podcast | Sexual health in older age

Springer Medicine

Network analysis of PTSD symptoms following childbirth and comorbid conditions among women with sexual trauma history

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Podcast | Sexual health in older age

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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