Peritraumatic dissociation, acute stress, and early posttraumatic stress disorder in victims of general crime

Objective: To compare the relation between peritraumatic dissociation and a cute stress and the early development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTS D) in victims of general crime. Method. A total of 48 subjects were assessed within 24 hours of the trauma, using the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire Self-Report Version (PDEQ-SRV). They were followed longitudinally to assess acute stre ss (2 weeks after the assault) using the Standford, Acute Stress Reaction Q uestionnaire (SASRQ), and posttraumatic stress (at 5 weeks), using the Clin ician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and the Impact of Event Scale (IES). Results: Among PTSD subjects mean PDEQ scores were significantly higher (me an 3, SD 0.9) than in those without PTSD (mean 2.3, SD 0.7) (t = 2.78, df 4 6, P = 0.007). Among PTSD subjects, mean SASRQ scores were significantly hi gher (mean 97.9, SD 29.2) than in those without PTSD (mean 54.8, SD 28.2) ( t = 4.9, df 46, P = 0.00007). Conclusions: High levels of peritraumatic dissociation and acute stress fol lowing violent assault are risk factors for early PTSD. Identifying acute r eexperiencing can help the clinician identify subjects at highest risk.