ACUTE AND CHRONIC DISTRESS AND POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER AS A FUNCTION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR SERIOUS MOTOR-VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

In this study on the effects of attributions of responsibility for tra umatic events, stress, coping, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress di sorder (PTSD) were measured, including intrusive thoughts among 130 vi ctims of serious motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) 14-21 days and 3, 6, a nd 12 months after their accident. MVA victims and 43 control particip ants were categorized by accident and attribution of responsibility fo r their accidents (self-responsible, other-responsible, and control). Although initially all MVA victims reported higher levels of intrusive thoughts and were more likely to meet criteria for PTSD diagnoses, on ly other-responsible participants continued to demonstrate increased d istress 6 and 12 months postaccident. Self-responsible participants us ed more self-blame coping than other-responsible participants, althoug h within the self-responsible group, use of self-blame was associated with more distress.