title: The role of injury and trauma-related variables in the onset and course of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects a minority of trauma-exposed persons and is associated with significant impairment. This longitudinal study examined risk factors for PTSD. We tested whether the presence of injuries resulting from trauma exposure predicted the course of PTSD symptoms. In addition, we tested whether gender, trauma type, perceived life threat, and peritraumatic dissociation predicted the onset of PTSD symptoms. 236 trauma-exposed civilians were assessed for PTSD symptoms with a structured interview at four occasions during 6 months posttrauma. Path analysis showed that a model in which the female gender, assault, perceived life threat, and peritraumatic dissociation predicted PTSD severity at 1 week, and injury predicted PTSD severity 8 weeks after the traumatic event showed the best fit. However, a similar model without injury showed comparable fit. It is concluded that injuries have a negligible effect on the course of PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, e.m.sijbrandij@vu.nl.
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sijbrandij
authors.forename: Iris M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Engelhard
authors.forename: Giel-Jan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Jan S K
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Luitse
authors.forename: Ingrid V E
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Carlier
authors.forename: Berthold P R
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Gersons
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000379:methods; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult