title: The independent predictive value of peritraumatic dissociation for postdisaster intrusions, avoidance reactions, and PTSD symptom severity: a 4-year prospective study.
abstract: This 4-year prospective study (N=662) of victims of a fireworks disaster examines the independent predictive value of peritraumatic dissociation for self-reported intrusions, avoidance reactions, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity at both 18-months (T2) and almost 4-years postdisaster (T3). Peritraumatic dissociation was measured 2-3 weeks after the disaster (T1). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that peritraumatic dissociation was not a strong independent predictor for intrusions and avoidance reactions and PTSD symptom severity at T2 or at T3 above initial intrusions, avoidance reactions, and psychological distress (T1). Results suggest that an early screening procedure for peritraumatic dissociation, which is aimed at identifying disaster victims who are at risk for long-term psychological disturbances can be omitted.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Psychotrauma, Zaltbommel, The Netherlands. peter.vdvelden@ivp.nl
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: van der Velden
authors.forename: Rolf J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kleber
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Christiaanse
authors.forename: Berthold P R
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Gersons
authors.forename: Frans G H
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Marcelissen
authors.forename: Annelieke N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Drogendijk
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grievink
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olff
authors.forename: Mariel L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Meewisse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004190:Disasters; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009426:Netherlands; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*