An examination of the differential effects of the experience of DSM-IV defined traumatic events and life stressors. J Anxiety Disord 2009 Jun;23(5):711-7
Date
03/25/2009Pubmed ID
19307093DOI
10.1016/j.janxdis.2009.02.010Scopus ID
2-s2.0-64249115273 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 42 CitationsAbstract
Recent evidence suggests that individuals exposed to traumatic events report similar, if not lower, levels of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms than individuals exposed to nontraumatic stressful life events [J. Anxiety Disord. 19 (2005) 687-698; Br. J. Psychiatry 186 (2005) 494-499]. The current study compared the level of self-reported PTSD symptoms in a large sample (n=668) of trauma and nontrauma exposed college students. Participants were assessed for past trauma history as well as current symptoms of PTSD, depression, social interaction anxiety, and current positive and negative affect. Results indicated that while those who had experienced a traumatic event reported statistically significantly higher levels of PTSD symptoms, these differences were no longer clinically significant after other psychological distress factors were accounted for. Additional analyses suggested that those who had experienced events of an interpersonal nature had significantly higher levels of PTSD symptoms than those who had experienced other types of events.
Author List
Lancaster SL, Melka SE, Rodriguez BFAuthor
Stephen E. Melka PhD Assistant Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Female
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Life Change Events
Male
Middle Aged
Severity of Illness Index
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Young Adult
