Does guilt mediate the association between tonic immobility and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in female trauma survivors?
Tonic immobility (TI) is an involuntary freezing response that can occur during a traumatic event. TI has been identified as a risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), although the mechanism for this relationship remains unclear. This study evaluated a particular possible mechanism for the relationship between TI and PTSD symptoms: posttraumatic guilt. To examine this possibility, we assessed 63 female trauma survivors for TI, posttraumatic guilt, and PTSD symptom severity. As expected, the role of guilt in the association between TI and PTSD symptom severity was consistent with mediation (B = 0.35; p < .05). Thus, guilt may be an important mechanism by which trauma survivors who experience TI later develop PTSD symptoms. We discuss the clinical implications, including the importance of educating those who experienced TI during their trauma about the involuntary nature of this experience.
National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Michelle J
MJ
Bovin
Thomas S
TS
Dodson
Brian N
BN
Smith
Kristin
K
Gregor
Brian P
BP
Marx
Suzanne L
SL
Pineles
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001900:Boston; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D046353:Immobility Response, Tonic; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult