Abstract
Background. Only some victims of intrapersonal violence develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the aftermath of the traumatic event. The aim of the present study was to investigate risk factors for the development of PTSD. Methods. Standardized interviews and questionnaires were applied to 45 victims of interpersonal violence in a cross-sectional study. Results. Of the 45 victims, 15 (33%) were diagnosed as having PTSD. Perceived mental defeat during the trauma, the number of previously experienced traumatic events and cognitive processing during the traumatic experience were found to be important predictors for severity of PTSD symptoms. Conclusions. The present findings suggest that peritraumatic and cognitive factors play a major role in the development of PTSD and may contribute to an early identification of risk groups.
Translated title of the contribution | Posttraumatic stress disorder in victims of interpersonal violence |
---|---|
Original language | German |
Pages (from-to) | 301-305 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Rechtsmedizin |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Cognitive factors
- Interpersonal violence
- Peritraumatic dissociation
- Posttraumatic stress disorder
- Risk factors