Delayed post-traumatic stress and memory inflation of life-threatening events following a natural disaster: prospective study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The causes of delayed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are debated, and the validity of late-onset PTSD has been questioned.

Aims

We aimed to examine predictors of delayed PTSD in a community sample of survivors of a natural disaster.

Method

Norwegian survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami (n = 532) responded to a questionnaire at 6 and 24 months post-disaster. The questionnaire measured PTSD symptoms, recalled exposure and immediate stress responses to the disaster, recalled perceived life threat, personality dimensions, social support and other subsequent adverse life events.

Results

When dichotomising PTSD symptom scores, 331 participants had low and 194 had high PTSD scores (early-onset PTSD) at 6 months. Of those with initially low scor

SUBMITTER: Heir T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8281038 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature