Reaction to stressful life events: What predicts symptom severity?
Abstract
This study examined the effect of Criterion A and non-Criterion A (as defined by the DSM-IV-TR) events on symptomatology related to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Two hundred and forty-one college students completed a series of questionnaires related to symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, psychological processes and psychopathology. Participants were divided into two groups: those that experienced a Criterion A traumatic life event as defined by the DSM-IV-TR, and those that experienced a non-Criterion A event. A chi-square analysis revealed a higher percentage of those with a Criterion A event meeting criteria for PTSD, although results indicated no differences on the overall severity of PTSD symptoms, or the re-experiencing, hyperarousal or avoidance subscales of PTSD symptoms between these two groups when time since event and distress were held constant. In a logistic regression analysis, the tendency to engage in thought suppression and level of distress were related to a diagnosis of PTSD, while type of event (Criterion A or non-Criterion A) was marginally related. Results are discussed in relation to ongoing discussion examining the description, classification and impact of a Criterion A event on PTSD symptoms, and the possible impact for treatment.
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Experiential avoidance is a maladaptive coping strategy associated with the development and severity of PTSD and BPD.
“Experiential avoidance—or efforts to suppress and avoid painful or aversive stimuli such as thoughts, emotions, memories, and physiological arousal associated with trauma (Hayes et al. 1996)—is a maladaptive coping strategy associated with the development and severity of PTSD (Cameron et al. 2010) and BPD (Neacsiu et al. 2014).”
From Child Sexual Abuse as a Unique Risk Factor for the Development of Psychopathology: The Compounded Convergence of Mechanisms (2021) · cites this paper as Cameron et al. 2010
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- Authors
- Cameron, A., Palm, K., & Follette, V.
- Affiliations
- Clark University (US)
- University of Nevada, Reno (US)
- Corresponding author
- Cameron, Amy
- Venue
- Journal of Anxiety Disorders
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-08
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 645-649
- ISSN
- 0887-6185 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2073960101
- Cited by
- 53
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 3.88
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Anxiety Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Clark Digital Commons (Clark University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, life events, symptom severity, thought suppression, DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria, university students, re-experiencing, hyperarousal, avoidance, psychological distress
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Female, Humans, Life Change Events, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychometrics, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Stress, Psychological
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