Relationship Between Trauma Narratives and Trauma Pathology
Document Type
Article
Subject Area(s)
Psychology
Abstract
In this study we examined the relationship between posttrauma pathology and the level of articulation (complexity) in rape narratives recounted by victims shortly after the assault. Degree of articulation was operationalized as the reading level of the narratives as determined by a computer program. Shortly after the trauma, reading level was correlated with severity of anxiety but not with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Degree of the narrative articulation shortly after the trauma, however, was related to severity of later PTSD. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the less developed trauma narratives hinder recovery from trauma.
Publication Info
Journal of Traumatic Stress, Volume 11, Issue 2, 1998, pages 385-392.
Amir, N., Stafford, J., Freshman, M. S., & Foa, E. B. (1998). Relationship between trauma narratives and trauma pathology. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 11(2), 385-392.
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Amir, N., Stafford, J., Freshman, M. S., & Foa, E. B. (1998). Relationship between trauma narratives and trauma pathology. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 11(2), 385-392, which has been published in final form at DOI:10.1023/A:1024415523495. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
© Journal of Traumatic Stress, 1998, Wiley.