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Consistency of retrospective reporting about exposure to traumatic events
Author(s) -
Krinsley Karen E.,
Gallagher James G.,
Weathers Frank W.,
Kutter Catherine J.,
Kaloupek Danny G.
Publication year - 2003
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:1024474204233
Subject(s) - consistency (knowledge bases) , retrospective cohort study , sexual abuse , occupational safety and health , psychology , injury prevention , psychiatry , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , suicide prevention , medicine , medical emergency , clinical psychology , surgery , geometry , mathematics , pathology
Lifetime exposure to traumatic events was assessed by means of a multimethod protocol applied to 76 male military veterans. Consistency of retrospective reporting was determined for physical and sexual assault and abuse, accidents, disasters, combat and warzone experiences, serious illness or injury, and hazardous duty. Findings demonstrate that respondents are generally consistent in reporting traumatic events, although the majority report more events upon reevaluation. Reporting about traumatic events shows some variation as a function of the life epoch in which events occurred, whether they were directly or indirectly experienced, and the type of trauma involved. Discussion addresses memory‐related processes triggered by trauma evaluation or tied to characteristics of events themselves as potential sources of inconsistency.