RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRAUMA NARRATIVES AND TRAUMA PATHOLOGY

In this study we examined the relationship between posttrauma patholog y and the level of articulation (complexity) in rape narratives recoun ted by victims shortly after the assault. Degree of articulation was o perationalized as the reading level of the narratives as determined by a computer program. Shortly after the trauma, reading level was corre lated with severity of anxiety but not with posttraumatic stress disor der (PTSD) symptoms. Degree of the narrative articulation shortly afte r the trauma, however; was related to severity of later PTSD. These re sults are consistent with the hypothesis that the less developed traum a narratives hinder recovery from trauma.