Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
10447813 | Journal of Anxiety Disorders | 2005 | 12 Pages |
Abstract
This study explored the definition of a traumatic stressor, as it currently stands in the DSM-IV-TR, and the relationship between this definition and psychological symptomatology. Four hundred and fifty-four college undergraduates completed measures assessing psychopathology and exposure to trauma. Individuals were then divided into two groups, those who reported a traumatic event that was consistent with the DSM Criterion A1 definition and those who reported a traumatic event that was inconsistent with the definition. Surprisingly, the latter group reported significantly greater severity of PTSD symptomatology than those who reported a Criterion A1 PTSD event. In addition, significantly more people in the DSM trauma-incongruent group met criteria for PTSD than those in the DSM trauma-congruent group. Nearly two-thirds of the DSM trauma-incongruent group identified the death or illness of a loved one as their traumatic experience. The results are discussed within the context of the ongoing controversy over PTSD Criterion A1.
Keywords
Related Topics
Health Sciences
Medicine and Dentistry
Psychiatry and Mental Health
Authors
Sari D. Gold, Brian P. Marx, Jose M. Soler-Baillo, Denise M. Sloan,