Outcomes of single versus multiple trauma exposure in a screening sample

Most studies ignore prior trauma exposure when evaluating outcomes of targe t events. This study explored symptom severity associated with different ty pes of traumatic experiences occurring alone and with multiple exposure. Th e Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire categorized 1,909 sophomore women into groups including no trauma exposure, exposure to a serious nan- Criterion A evens only, exposure to several unique noninterpersonal and int erpersonal events, and exposure to multiple interpersonal events. Women wit h noninterpersonal trauma did nor differ from those without trauma on the T rauma Symptom Inventory. Only interpersonal trauma and non-Criterion A even ts were associated with elevated symptoms; multiple-exposure participants h ad significantly higher symptoms than all other groups. Complex trauma hist ories should be accounted for even in studies of one target event.