Multivariate prediction of posttraumatic symptoms in psychiatric inpatients

Based on a conceptual framework for the long-term effects of childhood abus e, this study examined the capacity of childhood family environment (careta ker dysfunction, neglect, perceived social support), violent abuse (physica l and sexual), and individual variables (other abuse) to predict adult psyc hiatric symptoms of PTSD, dissociation, and depression. Complete interview data were obtained from 178 psychiatric inpatients who varied greatly on ab use status and severity. Results of multiple regressions of predictor varia bles onto the three outcome variables showed that the predictor variables a ccounted for 15% (for depression) to 42% (for PTSD) of the variance in thes e symptoms and that violent abuse uniquely accounted for a significant prop ortion of the variance in outcomes for all three of the symptom groups stud ied.