Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Over 75% of Canadians experience a traumatic event during their lives, and 9% of these individuals develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a chronic and debilitating mental health condition associated with substantial personal and societal costs, including overuse of healthcare resources and reduced workplace productivity. The estimated annual cost of PTSD is $40 billion. Many people with PTSD also develop major depressive disorder and substance use disorders, which are associated with additional economic costs. Yet, PTSD is generally investigated without considering these commonly co-occurring disorders. As a result, it is unclear if PTSD leads to depression and substance use. In addition, few attempts have been made to identify the factors that predict PTSD, depression, and substance use. This study will extend the literature by examining the relationships among PTSD, substance use, and depression symptoms over a one-year period in individuals who have experiencing a traumatic event. This study will also examine the risk and resilience factors that predict PTSD symptoms, and PTSD symptoms with co-occurring substance use or depression symptoms. Several of theses factors include sex, social support, and life stressors. A better understanding of the relationships between PTSD, substance use, and depression is necessary to identify Canadians at the greatest risk to develop these conditions after experiencing a trauma, and to improve treatments for individuals living with these conditions. The results of this study will guide treatment and prevention efforts, ultimately improving the health of Canadians.