AROUSAL, NUMBING, AND INTRUSION - SYMPTOM STRUCTURE OF PTSD FOLLOWINGASSAULT

Objective: This study investigated hypotheses concerning the importanc e of symptoms of numbing in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Meth od: Symptoms of PTSD were assessed in 72 female rape victims and 86 fe male victims of nonsexual assault approximately 3 months after the cri mes occurred. A principal-components factor analysis of subjects' symp toms was then undertaken. Results: The analysis yielded three factors: arousal/avoidance, numbing, and intrusion. These were somewhat differ ent from the symptom clusters in DSM-III-R, since effortful avoidance and numbing symptoms did not load on the same factor. Numbing symptoms appeared to be Particularly important in identifying individuals with PTSD. Conclusions: The results imply that there are two patterns of p osttrauma symptoms, one characterizing PTSD and the second characteriz ing a phobic reaction.