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The course of PTSD symptoms among Gulf War veterans: A growth mixture modeling approach
Author(s) -
Orcutt Holly K.,
Erickson Darin J.,
Wolfe Jessica
Publication year - 2004
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/b:jots.0000029262.42865.c2
Subject(s) - gulf war , structural equation modeling , psychology , homogeneous , latent growth modeling , clinical psychology , growth model , psychiatry , demography , developmental psychology , statistics , history , physics , mathematics , economics , economic history , microeconomics , thermodynamics , sociology
Relatively little is known about the course of PTSD symptoms over time following trauma exposure. Accordingly, this study utilized a specialized structural equation modeling approach, growth mixture modeling, to examine the trajectory of PTSD symptoms across three time points in a sample of Gulf War veterans ( n at Time 1 = 2,949, n at Time 2 = 2,313, and n at Time 3 = 1,327). Results were most consistent with a two‐group model suggesting that the course of PTSD symptoms following the Gulf War was best characterized by two distinct growth curves: (1) low levels of PTSD symptoms with little increase over time and (2) higher levels of initial symptoms with a significant increase over time. Thus, it appears that response to Gulf War experiences is not homogeneous, and that a subset of individuals may experience relatively more PTSD symptoms over time. In addition, men, Whites, those reporting more education, and those reporting less combat exposure had a significantly higher probability of being classified into the less symptomatic group.