A longitudinal analysis of PTSD symptom course: delayed-onset PTSD in Somalia peacekeepers.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) typically follows an acute to chronic course. However, some trauma victims do not report significant symptoms until a period of time has elapsed after the event. Although originally dismissed as an artifact of retrospective methodologies, recent prospective studies document apparent instances of delayed-onset PTSD. Little is known currently about factors associated with the delayed onset of PTSD. This study was designed to examine the course of PTSD in a sample of 1,040 U.S. military peacekeepers who served in Somalia. A small but nontrivial subset of participants endorsed clinically significant levels of PTSD after a period of minimal distress, the magnitude of which cannot be ascribed to minor waxing and waning of symptoms. War-zone exposure and perceived meaningfulness of the mission, as rated by soldiers after returning to the United States, predicted symptom course over the next 18 months.
Gray
Matt J
MJ
Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA. gray@uwyo.edu.
Bolton
Elisa E
EE
Litz
Brett T
BT
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D018635:Rescue Work; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012998:Somalia; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology