Peritraumatic dissociation and experiential avoidance as predictors of posttraumatic stress symptomatology

Brian P Marx; Denise M Sloan

doi:10.1016/j.brat.2004.04.004

Peritraumatic dissociation and experiential avoidance as predictors of posttraumatic stress symptomatology

Behav Res Ther. 2005 May;43(5):569-83. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2004.04.004.

Authors

Brian P Marx¹, Denise M Sloan

Affiliation

¹ Department of Psychology, Temple University, Weiss Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. bmarx@temple.edu

PMID: 15865913
DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2004.04.004

Abstract

This study examined whether peritraumatic dissociation serves as a proxy risk factor for experiential avoidance in its relationship with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology. One hundred eighty-five trauma survivors completed measures that assessed for peritraumatic dissociation, experiential avoidance, and PTSD symptom severity. The results indicated that peritraumatic dissociation and experiential avoidance were significantly related to PTSD symptomatology at baseline. However, after initial levels of PTSD symptomatology were taken into account, only experiential avoidance was related to PTSD symptoms both 4- and 8-weeks later. These results indicate that peritraumatic dissociation is not a proxy risk factor for experiential avoidance and contributes to the growing body of literature indicating that experiential avoidance is an important factor related to the psychological symptoms experienced by trauma survivors.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Avoidance Learning*
Dissociative Disorders / psychology*
Female
Humans
Male
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Regression Analysis
Risk Factors
Sensitivity and Specificity
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute / psychology*
Survivors