title: Posttraumatic appraisals in the development and persistence of posttraumatic stress symptoms.
abstract: Cognitive models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) posit that appraisal plays an important role in the development and persistence of PTSD. This study examined posttraumatic appraisals and their relationship to the development and course of PTSD symptoms. Two hundred fifty-three injury survivors were assessed for PTSD symptoms and posttraumatic cognitions across a 12-month period. A path analytic modeling approach showed that posttraumatic appraisals were important direct and indirect predictors of later PTSD severity. The findings suggest that appraisals made in the aftermath of trauma have a significant influence on subsequent psychological adjustment.
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, and Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne-Parkville, Heidelberg West, Victoria 3081, Australia. mod@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Meaghan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Bronwyn Jones
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wolfgang
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Creamer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*