ASSOCIATION OF INTELLIGENCE WITH SEVERITY OF POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER SYMPTOMS IN VIETNAM COMBAT VETERANS

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether intellig ence predicts variance in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom s beyond that predicted by extent of combat exposure. Method: The subj ects were 105 male Vietnam combat veterans. They completed the Mississ ippi Scale for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, the Comba t Exposure Scale, and the Shipley Institute for Living Scale, a measur e of general intelligence. Number of years of education was recorded f or each subject. Results: Multiple regression analyses revealed that e stimated full-scale IQ significantly predicted variance in PTSD sympto ms beyond that Predicted by extent of combat exposure. The lower a sub ject's intelligence, the more severe were his PTSD symptoms. Conclusio ns: Cognitive variables may affect She ability to cope wish trauma, th ereby affecting whether a person develops chronic PTSD.