Social Functioning in Individuals With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is linked to severe functional impairments.
• Social functioning is a critical aspect of overall well-being affected by PTSD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review social functioning outcomes in PTSD research.
• To examine the association between PTSD and social functioning.
• To evaluate the impact of PTSD interventions on social functioning.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 26 articles.
• Adherence to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Main Results:

• PTSD is significantly associated with impaired global social functioning.
• Existing literature lacks standardized definitions and robust assessment methods for social functioning in PTSD.
• Evidence-based PTSD treatments show potential to improve social functioning, even without direct targeting.

Conclusions:

• There is a need for improved operationalization and measurement of social functioning in PTSD research.
• Interventions for PTSD may offer opportunities to enhance social functioning.
• Further research and refined interventions are crucial for improving social functioning in individuals with PTSD.