Type of trauma, severity of posttraumatic stress disorder core symptoms, and associated features

Sixty-six persons with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exposed to battlefield experience, civilian terrorism, and work and traffic accidents were studied to assess the differential outcome of the various types of trauma as measured by PTSD core symptoms and associated features of depression, anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity, and somatization. The participants were assessed on a PTSD scale, Impact of Events Scale, and four Symptom Check List subscales. The results showed that the battle-experience group was more severely affected than the other groups. Time elapsed since the trauma was significantly positively correlated to PTSD core sypmtoms and associated features. Only the time elapsed since the trauma—not the division into type of trauma groups—was significantly correlated with severity. Education and army rank were found to be protecting variables.