THE RELATIONSHIP OF PERITRAUMATIC DISSOCIATION AND POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS - FINDINGS IN FEMALE VIETNAM THEATER VETERANS

This study examined the relationship of dissociation at the time of tr auma, as assessed by the Peri-traumatic Dissociation Experiences Quest ionnaire, Rater Version (PDEQ-RV; C. R. Marmar, D. S. Weiss, & T. J. M etzler, in press), and posttraumatic stress symptoms in a group of 77 female Vietnam theater veterans. PDEQ-RV ratings were found to be asso ciated strongly with posttraumatic stress symptomatology, as measured by the impact of event Scale (M.J. Horowitz, N. Wilner, & W. Alvarez, 1979), and also positively associated with level of stress exposure an d general dissociative tendencies, measured by the Dissociative Experi ences Scale. The PDEQ-RV was unassociated with general psychiatric sym ptomatology, as assessed by the clinical scales of the Minnesota Multi phasic Personality Inventory-2 (J. N. Butcher, W. G. Dahlstrom, J. R. Graham, A. Tellegen, & B. Kaemmer, 1989). The PDEQ-RV was predictive o f posttraumatic stress symptoms beyond the contributions of level of s tress exposure and general dissociative tendencies. The findings provi de further support for the reliability and validity of the PDEQ-RV as a measure of peritraumatic dissociation.