Latent typologies of posttraumatic stress disorder amongst first responders: a comparison to combat veterans

First responders and veterans are disproportionately affected by posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Findings from the extant literature suggest that there may be distinct subtypes of PTSD, and that differences in occupations and the types of traumas experienced may be related to different symptom presentations. As such, the present study used latent profile analysis to identify latent subtypes of PTSD in a carefully diagnosed sample of veterans and first responders. In doing so, we identified a four-profile solution: Cognitive Distress (26.9 %), Anhedonic Avoidance (33.2 %), Ruminative Arousal (20.3 %), and High Undifferentiated (19.6 %). We also examined the relationship between occupation type and the profiles. In doing so, we found that first responders were more likely to belong in the Cognitive Distress and Ruminative Arousal profiles compared to military personnel. Additionally, in comparison to law enforcement officers, firefighters were more likely to belong to the Cognitive Distress and Anhedonic Avoidant profiles. These findings may have important implications for how we treat PTSD in veterans and first responders.