Loneliness in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Neglected Factor in Accelerated Aging?
Loneliness in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Neglected Factor in Accelerated Aging?
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DOI：
10.3390/jal2040027
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发表时间：
2022-12
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先前的研究表明，患有创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）的人可能会经历一种加速的生物衰老。在其他人群中，孤独已被证明会增加许多加速生物衰老的相同成分的风险，以及其他有害结果，如PTSD患者所见。虽然PTSD的标准诊断标准包括“与他人分离或疏远的感觉”，但这种感觉与孤独概念的关系仍然不确定，这可能是由于无法区分孤独与客观的社会孤立。为了促进更广泛的研究关注PTSD中的孤独感，以及对加速生物衰老的潜在贡献，本文提供了三个组成部分：（1）相关结构和潜在相互关系的概念概述，（2）对有限的现存实证文献的回顾，以及（3）对未来研究的建议方向。现有的实证文献太少，无法支持许多明确的结论，但有证据表明孤独和PTSD症状之间存在关联。这种关联的性质可能是复杂的，因果关系的方向（S）不确定。在概念概述和现有文献综述的指导下，我们还强调了进一步研究的关键领域。这一系列工作的最终目标是阐明PTSD中孤独和加速衰老之间任何联系的潜在机制，并开发，验证和完善预防和治疗工作。
Prior research suggests that people with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may experience a form of accelerated biological aging. In other populations, loneliness has been shown to elevate risk for many of the same components of accelerated biological aging, and other deleterious outcomes, as seen in people with PTSD. Although standard diagnostic criteria for PTSD include “feelings of detachment or estrangement from others”, the relationship of such feelings to the concept of loneliness remains uncertain, in par potentially due to a failure to distinguish between loneliness versus objective social isolation. In order to catalyze wider research attention to loneliness in PTSD, and the potential contribution to accelerated biological aging, the present paper provides three components: (1) a conceptual overview of the relevant constructs and potential interrelationships, (2) a review of the limited extant empirical literature, and (3) suggested directions for future research. The existing empirical literature is too small to support many definitive conclusions, but there is evidence of an association between loneliness and symptoms of PTSD. The nature of this association may be complex, and the causal direction(s) uncertain. Guided by the conceptual overview and review of existing literature, we also highlight key areas for further research. The ultimate goal of this line of work is to elucidate mechanisms underlying any link between loneliness and accelerated aging in PTSD, and to develop, validate, and refine prevention and treatment efforts.