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Posttraumatic appraisals in the development and persistence of posttraumatic stress symptoms
Author(s) -
O'Donnell Meaghan L.,
Elliott Peter,
Wolfgang Bronwyn Jones,
Creamer Mark
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.20198
Subject(s) - posttraumatic stress , persistence (discontinuity) , psychology , cognitive appraisal , clinical psychology , cognition , psychiatry , geotechnical engineering , engineering
Cognitive models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) posit that appraisal plays an important role in the development and persistence of PTSD. This study examined posttraumatic appraisals and their relationship to the development and course of PTSD symptoms. Two hundred fifty‐three injury survivors were assessed for PTSD symptoms and posttraumatic cognitions across a 12‐month period. A path analytic modeling approach showed that posttraumatic appraisals were important direct and indirect predictors of later PTSD severity. The findings suggest that appraisals made in the aftermath of trauma have a significant influence on subsequent psychological adjustment.