Challenges in Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living among Adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Participation is an important measure of disorder severity. Although posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often causes functional impairment, the literature about challenges in basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) among adults with PTSD appears limited. To describe the encountered challenges according to the existing literature, a systematic search identified 20 articles published between 1995 and 2021. These studies described various limitations on ADL among adults with PTSD, mostly (60%) in broad terms; thus, failing to identify the exact challenging domains. This review discusses the need for research and clinical practice to systematically evaluate basic and instrumental ADL in PTSD.

Keywords:

• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• disability
• functional impairment
• activities of daily living (ADL)
• instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)
• participation

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This scoping review was conducted in the broader scope of a doctoral dissertation at the University of Haifa, for which Janne L. Punski-Hoogervorst received a competitive scholarship from VSBfonds [project nr. VSB.19/00173]. No other funding was received for this research.