OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether
intelligence predicts variance in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
symptoms beyond that predicted by extent of combat exposure. METHOD: The
subjects were 105 male Vietnam combat veterans. They completed the
Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, the
Combat Exposure Scale, and the Shipley Institute for Living Scale, a
measure of general intelligence. Number of years of education was recorded
for each subject. RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses revealed that
estimated full-scale IQ significantly predicted variance in PTSD symptoms
beyond that predicted by extent of combat exposure. The lower a subject's
intelligence, the more severe were his PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS:
Cognitive variables may affect the ability to cope with trauma, thereby
affecting whether a person develops chronic PTSD.Abstract Teaser