A Longitudinal Analysis of PTSD Symptom Course: Delayed-Onset PTSD in Somalia Peacekeepers

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) typically follows an acute to chronic course. However, some trauma victims do not report significant symptoms until a period of time has elapsed after the event. Although originally dismissed as an artifact of retrospective methodologies, recent prospective studi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of consulting and clinical psychology 2004-10, Vol.72 (5), p.909-913
Main Authors: Gray, Matt J, Bolton, Elisa E, Litz, Brett T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
American people
Anxiety disorders. Neuroses
Biological and medical sciences
Chronic Disease
Delayed
Disease Course
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Foreign Countries
Human
Humans
International peacekeeping
Long-term analysis
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Medical sciences
Mental stress
Military
Military deployment
Military Personnel
Military Personnel - psychology
Onset
Onset (Disorders)
Peace keeping
Peacekeeping
Post traumatic stress disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Rescue Work
Severity of Illness Index
Somalia
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - epidemiology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology
Symptoms
Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
Trauma
War
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Description
Summary:Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) typically follows an acute to chronic course. However, some trauma victims do not report significant symptoms until a period of time has elapsed after the event. Although originally dismissed as an artifact of retrospective methodologies, recent prospective studies document apparent instances of delayed-onset PTSD. Little is known currently about factors associated with the delayed onset of PTSD. This study was designed to examine the course of PTSD in a sample of 1,040 U.S. military peacekeepers who served in Somalia. A small but nontrivial subset of participants endorsed clinically significant levels of PTSD after a period of minimal distress, the magnitude of which cannot be ascribed to minor waxing and waning of symptoms. War-zone exposure and perceived meaningfulness of the mission, as rated by soldiers after returning to the United States, predicted symptom course over the next 18 months.
ISSN:0022-006X
1939-2117
DOI:10.1037/0022-006X.72.5.909