Dissociation and posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam combat veterans.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared current dissociative symptoms and dissociation at the time of specific traumatic events in Vietnam combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Vietnam combat veterans without PTSD.


METHODS
Vietnam combat veterans who sought treatment for PTSD (N = 53) were compared to Vietnam combat veterans without PTSD (N = 32) who sought treatment for medical problems. Dissociative symptoms were evaluated with the Dissociative Experiences Scale. Dissociation at the time of a combat-related traumatic event was evaluated retrospectively with the modified Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire. The Combat Exposure Scale was used to measure level of combat exposure.


RESULTS
There was a significantly higher level of dissociative symptoms, as measured by the Dissociative Experiences Scale, in patients with PTSD (mean = 27.0, SD = 18.0) than in patients without PTSD (mean = 13.7, SD = 16.0). This difference persisted when the difference in level of combat exposure was controlled with analysis of covariance. PTSD patients also reported more dissociative symptoms at the time of combat trauma, as measured retrospectively by the Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (mean = 11.5, SD = 1.6) than non-PTSD patients (mean = 1.8, SD = 2.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Dissociative symptoms are an important element of the long-term psychopathological response to trauma.
Bremner
J D
JD
National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, West Haven VA Medical Center, CT 06516.
Southwick
S
S
Brett
E
E
Fontana
A
A
Rosenheck
R
R
Charney
D S
DS
D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014744:Vietnam