Peritraumatic dissociation and posttraumatic stress disorder following motor vehicle accidents

Objective: This study examined the relation between peritraumatic dissociat ion and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in victims of motor vehicle ac cidents. Method: Victims of serious motor vehicle accidents (N=122) were as sessed for peritraumatic dissociation with the Peritraumatic Dissociative E xperiences Questionnaire-Rater Version and followed longitudinally to asses s acute and chronic PTSD (1 month and 3 months after the accident) with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R. Results: The most common peri traumatic dissociative symptom was time distortion (56.6%). Subjects with p eritraumatic dissociation were 4.12 times more likely than those without to have acute PTSD and 4.86 times more likely to develop chronic PTSD. The ri sk was independent of risk associated with the presence of PTSD before the accident. Conclusions: Peritraumatic dissociation is common following motor vehicle accidents and is a risk factor for acute and chronic PTSD, indepen dent of risk associated with prior PTSD.