Peritraumatic dissociation and PTSD severity: do event-related fears about death and control mediate their relation?
Relations among peritraumatic dissociation, PTSD severity, event-related fear (i.e. fear experienced during traumatic event) about death, and event-related fear about losing control were examined in the current study. Particular emphasis was placed on testing whether or not fears about death and losing control mediate the relation between peritraumatic dissociation and PTSD severity in a sample of 146 nontreatment-seeking university women. Results indicated that event-related fears about death and losing control accounted for the relation between peritraumatic dissociation and PTSD severity; that is, the effect of peritraumatic dissociation on PTSD severity was eliminated after controlling for these fears. Speculations about findings are discussed.
Gershuny
Beth S
BS
Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, OCD Clinic and Research Unit, Charlestown 02129, USA. gershuny@psych.mgh.harvard.edu
Cloitre
Marylene
M
Otto
Micheal W
MW
D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology; D040701:Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors