IMPULSIVITY AND POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS

Although it has been predicted from the compulsive reexposure hypothes is that PTSD is positively associated with sensation seeking, empirica l data do not support this hypothesis but suggest that PTSD may actual ly be associated with lower sensation seeking. In an attempt to resolv e the confusion over the association between sensation seeking and PTS D, we investigated the association between PTSD and scores on the Impu lsivity questionnaire (I-7: Eysenck, Pearson, Easting & Allsopp, 1985) in survivors of the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster. The I-7 makes a distinction between two components of impulsivity: Impulsiveness an d Venturesomeness. Impulsiveness is regarded as the pathological aspec t of risk taking behaviour. People high on Impulsiveness exhibit less awareness of the future consequences of their activities. Venturesomen ess, on the other hand, refers to risk taking behaviour in the knowled ge that there isa risk involved. Although no significant difference wa s found between high and low PTSD symptom survivors on Venturesomeness , high PTSD symptom survivors scored higher on Impulsiveness than low PTSD symptom survivors providing support for the compulsive reexposure hypothesis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.