title: Trauma centrality and PTSD in veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
abstract: Research has demonstrated that the extent to which an individual integrates a traumatic event into their identity ("trauma centrality") positively correlates with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity. No research to date has examined trauma centrality in individuals exposed to combat stress. This study investigated trauma centrality using the abridged Centrality of Event Scale (Berntsen & Rubin, 2006) among Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom combat veterans (n = 46). Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that trauma centrality predicted PTSD symptoms. Trauma centrality and PTSD symptoms remained significantly correlated when controlling for depression in subgroups of veterans with or without probable PTSD. This study replicates and extends findings that placing trauma at the center of one's identity is associated with PTSD symptomatology.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Cornell University, Department of Psychiatry, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA. adb2004@med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: Adam D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antonius
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Root
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hirst
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D057189:Checklist; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012649:Self Concept; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D023481:Terrorism / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology