Page 55 - January Febuary 2016 Issue
P. 55
PTSD Among Military Personnel: A Review
adults, with rate of PTSD in those who are readily available. This is also true for
were exposed to traumatic events being alcohol-related crimes and anti-social behaviors
23.6% and a lifetime prevalence of 9.2%, on college campuses across the nation. However,
Breslau, Davis, Andreski, & Peterson (1991) statistics on crimes against college students,
found that risk factors for PTSD following especially women, off campus are not so
exposure included early separation from available. In many large urban cities bars and
parents, neuroticism, preexisting anxiety or nightnot do; or they would not do when sober.
depression, and family history of anxiety.
While doing the research for this article, the
Carlier, Lamberts, & Gersons (1997) local television news station announced that
found among 262 traumatized police the police had recover the body of the college
oficers, in which 7% had PTSD & 34% student who was reported missing, three days
had posttraumatic stress symptoms or ago after a night of drinking at a popular New
sub threshold PTSD, trauma severity was York City nightclub. In the past few years New
the only predictor of posttraumatic stress York City seems to have more signiicantly
symptoms identiied at both 3 and 12 months associated with PTSD in women and both
post trauma. At 3 months post-trauma, neuroticism and self-criticism remained
symptomatology was further predicted by signiicant in men (Cox, Macpherson, Enns, &
introversion, dificulty in expressing feelings, Mcwilliams, 2004).
emotional exhaustion at time of trauma,
insuficient time allowed by employer The strongest vulnerability factors for both
for coming to terms with the trauma, PTSD and sub threshold PTSD were neuroticism
dissatisfaction with organizational support, and adverse events in early childhood as found
and insecure job future. At 12 months post- in a study involving 1721 older adults (Van
trauma, posttraumatic stress symptoms were Zelst, De Beurs, Beekman, Deeg, & Van Dyck,
further predicted by lack of hobbies, acute 2003).
hyper arousal, subsequent traumatic events,
job dissatisfaction, brooding over work, A review of studies on personality in the
and lack of social interaction support in the etiology and expression of PTSD by Miller
private sphere. Individuals who experienced (2003) concludes that high negative emotionality
one or more traumatic events were selected (NEM) is the primary personality risk factor
(N=3238) from respondents of the National for the development of PTSD whereas low
Comorbidity Survey Part II (N=5877). In constraint/inhibition (CON) and low positive
separate regression analyses, elevated levels emotionality (PEM) serve as moderating factors
of neuroticism and self-criticism were each that inluence the form and expression of the
signiicantly associated with PTSD among disorder through their interaction with NEM. A
men and women who had experienced one pre-morbid personality characterized by high
or more traumatic events. After controlling NEM combined with low PEM is thought
for types of traumas experienced and other to predispose the trauma-exposed individual
previously identiied factors, neuroticism towards an internalizing form of posttraumatic
remained response characterized by marked social
55
adults, with rate of PTSD in those who are readily available. This is also true for
were exposed to traumatic events being alcohol-related crimes and anti-social behaviors
23.6% and a lifetime prevalence of 9.2%, on college campuses across the nation. However,
Breslau, Davis, Andreski, & Peterson (1991) statistics on crimes against college students,
found that risk factors for PTSD following especially women, off campus are not so
exposure included early separation from available. In many large urban cities bars and
parents, neuroticism, preexisting anxiety or nightnot do; or they would not do when sober.
depression, and family history of anxiety.
While doing the research for this article, the
Carlier, Lamberts, & Gersons (1997) local television news station announced that
found among 262 traumatized police the police had recover the body of the college
oficers, in which 7% had PTSD & 34% student who was reported missing, three days
had posttraumatic stress symptoms or ago after a night of drinking at a popular New
sub threshold PTSD, trauma severity was York City nightclub. In the past few years New
the only predictor of posttraumatic stress York City seems to have more signiicantly
symptoms identiied at both 3 and 12 months associated with PTSD in women and both
post trauma. At 3 months post-trauma, neuroticism and self-criticism remained
symptomatology was further predicted by signiicant in men (Cox, Macpherson, Enns, &
introversion, dificulty in expressing feelings, Mcwilliams, 2004).
emotional exhaustion at time of trauma,
insuficient time allowed by employer The strongest vulnerability factors for both
for coming to terms with the trauma, PTSD and sub threshold PTSD were neuroticism
dissatisfaction with organizational support, and adverse events in early childhood as found
and insecure job future. At 12 months post- in a study involving 1721 older adults (Van
trauma, posttraumatic stress symptoms were Zelst, De Beurs, Beekman, Deeg, & Van Dyck,
further predicted by lack of hobbies, acute 2003).
hyper arousal, subsequent traumatic events,
job dissatisfaction, brooding over work, A review of studies on personality in the
and lack of social interaction support in the etiology and expression of PTSD by Miller
private sphere. Individuals who experienced (2003) concludes that high negative emotionality
one or more traumatic events were selected (NEM) is the primary personality risk factor
(N=3238) from respondents of the National for the development of PTSD whereas low
Comorbidity Survey Part II (N=5877). In constraint/inhibition (CON) and low positive
separate regression analyses, elevated levels emotionality (PEM) serve as moderating factors
of neuroticism and self-criticism were each that inluence the form and expression of the
signiicantly associated with PTSD among disorder through their interaction with NEM. A
men and women who had experienced one pre-morbid personality characterized by high
or more traumatic events. After controlling NEM combined with low PEM is thought
for types of traumas experienced and other to predispose the trauma-exposed individual
previously identiied factors, neuroticism towards an internalizing form of posttraumatic
remained response characterized by marked social
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