Predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and symptoms in adults: A meta-analysis.

Emily J. Ozer; Daniel S. Weiss; Suzanne R. Best; Tami L. Lipsey

doi:10.1037/1942-9681.s.1.3

Predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and symptoms in adults: A meta-analysis.

Предикторы посттравматического стрессового расстройства и его симптомов у взрослых: метаанализ.

Emily J. Ozer, Daniel S. Weiss, Suzanne R. Best, Tami L. Lipsey

2008-08-01

SCID: 54.1/96eyzchw Discuss with AI

PTSD predictorsmeta-analysisperitraumatic dissociationperitraumatic emotional responsesposttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract (AI)

A review of 2,647 studies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) yielded 476 potential candidates for a meta-analysis of predictors of PTSD or of its symptoms. From these, 68 studies met criteria for inclusion in a meta-analysis of 7 predictors: (a) prior trauma, (b) prior psychological adjustment, (c) family history of psychopathology, (d) perceived life threat during the trauma, (e) posttrauma social support, (f) peritraumatic emotional responses, and (g) peritraumatic dissociation. All yielded significant effect sizes, with family history, prior trauma, and prior adjustment the smallest (weighted r = .17) and peritraumatic dissociation the largest (weighted r = .35). The results suggest that peritraumatic psychological processes, not prior characteristics, are the strongest predictors of PTSD.

Key Findings

A review of 2,647 PTSD studies identified 68 studies suitable for meta-analysis of seven PTSD predictors.

All seven predictors showed significant effect sizes, including prior trauma, prior adjustment, family history, perceived life threat, social support, emotional responses, and dissociation.

Family history, prior trauma, and prior psychological adjustment had the smallest effects, each with a weighted correlation of r = .17.

Peritraumatic dissociation was the strongest predictor of PTSD, with a weighted correlation of r = .35.

Peritraumatic psychological processes predicted PTSD more strongly than pretrauma characteristics.

Research Object

Adults exposed to traumatic events and their posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or PTSD symptoms

Research Subject

The predictive effects of prior trauma, prior psychological adjustment, family history of psychopathology, perceived life threat, posttrauma social support, peritraumatic emotional responses, and peritraumatic dissociation on PTSD or its symptoms

Publication Details

DOI

10.1037/1942-9681.s.1.3

Publication Date

2008-08-01

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Author Information

Authors

Emily J. Ozer

Daniel S. Weiss

Suzanne R. Best

Tami L. Lipsey

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References available in scid.ai12

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