Work

Spontaneous remission from PTSD depends on the number of traumatic event types experienced.

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: As exposure to different types of traumatic stressors increases, the prevalence of PTSD increases. However, little is known about the effects of cumulative exposure to traumatic stress on the maintenance and remission from PTSD. In 2006/2007, we investigated 444 refugees from the 1994 Rwandan genocide, assessing exposure to traumatic events, current and lifetime PTSD, and PTSD symptom severity. Higher trauma exposure was associated with higher prevalence of current and lifetime PTSD, with lower probability of spontaneous remission from PTSD, and with higher current and lifetime PTSD symptom severity in clear dose-response effects. The results suggest traumatic load as a root cause of both PTSD chronicity and symptom severity and support the hypothesis of a neural fear network in the etiology of PTSD.

Source: Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy

DOI: 10.1037/a0019362

Authors: Iris-Tatjana Kolassa, Verena Ertl, Cindy Eckart, Stephan Kolassa, Lamaro P. Onyut, Thomas Elbert

Institution: University of Konstanz

Language: English

Topic: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Universität Konstanz