Beyond fear: the role of peritraumatic responses in posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms among female crime victims.
This study examines peritraumatic (and posttrauma) responses in a sample of female crime victims who had been sexually or physically assaulted within the previous 2 months. Women were interviewed about their emotional and behavioral responses during the trauma and assessed for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptomatology. Results indicate that women experience a wide range of behavioral and emotional responses during a traumatic event and that these responses have implications for posttrauma adjustment. Women who experienced behaviors typical of a freeze response are more likely to have a greater degree of symptomatology after the assault. Peritraumatic emotions, other than fear, such as sadness, humiliation, and anger, also appear to be related to posttrauma depression symptoms. These findings highlight the necessity of exploring the full range of possible reactions during a trauma.
Rizvi
Shireen L
SL
National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Boston University School of Medicine. RizviS@newschool.edu
Kaysen
Debra
D
Gutner
Cassidy A
CA
Griffin
Michael G
MG
Resick
Patricia A
PA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health