Peritraumatic dissociative experiences, trauma narratives, and trauma pathology.

Full Abstract

Peritraumatic dissociation, i.e., dissociation during or immediately after a traumatic event, has been associated with persistence of trauma-related pathology. Peritraumatic dissociation may interfere with encoding of traumatic memories and this style may impede recovery. This study examines this hypothesis by analyzing trauma narratives from 28 female sexual and nonsexual assault victims who reported either high or low peritraumatic dissociation. Participants were asked to recount their assault. Narratives were videotaped, transcribed, and coded. Narratives of individuals with high peritraumatic dissociation had higher grade levels and a trend toward lower reading ease than those with low peritraumatic dissociation. Both higher grade levels and lower reading ease of prethreat sections of trauma narratives were related to posttreatment reexperiencing and anxiety symptoms.

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Author information

Author/s: Zoellner, Lori A (LA); Alvarez-Conrad, Jennifer (J); Foa, Edna B (EB);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA. zoellner(-atsign-)u.washington.edu

Grants: MH42173 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Journal of traumatic stress (J Trauma Stress), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Feb; vol 15 (issue 1) : pp 49-57

Dates: Created 2002/04/08; Completed 2002/09/06; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 11936722, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Anxiety
Dissociative Disorders - etiology; psychology
Female

Humans
Memory
Rape - psychology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology

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