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Prospective and retrospective life‐charting in posttraumatic stress disorder (the PTSD‐LCM): A pilot study
Author(s) -
Osuch Elizabeth A.,
Brotman Melissa A.,
Podell Daniel,
Geraci Marilla,
Touzeau P. Lynn,
Leverich Gabriele S.,
McCann Una D.,
Post Robert M.
Publication year - 2001
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 - 10.1023/a:1007860204298
Subject(s) - medical record , posttraumatic stress , prospective cohort study , psychiatry , psychology , retrospective cohort study , longitudinal study , depiction , clinical psychology , medicine , surgery , pathology , linguistics , philosophy
The purpose of this study was to design and conduct a pilot analysis evaluating the utility of a longitudinal, graphic approach to the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Representative patients were instructed in the use of a daily prospective life‐chart; they were interviewed and their past medical records were examined for monthly retrospective life‐charting. The life charts were used to record life events, activating and inhibiting PTSD symptoms, comorbid symptoms, and treatment. Patients readily completed the prospective life‐chart and retrospectively rated symptoms associated with traumatic and nontraumatic life events. Life‐charting facilitated longitudinal depiction of the relationship of life experiences to PTSD symptoms and comorbidities, and the tracking of responses to medications.