OBJECTIVE: This study investigated hypotheses concerning the importance
of symptoms of numbing in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS:
Symptoms of PTSD were assessed in 72 female rape victims and 86 female
victims of nonsexual assault approximately 3 months after the crimes
occurred. A principal-components factor analysis of subjects' symptoms was
then undertaken. RESULTS: The analysis yielded three factors:
arousal/avoidance, numbing, and intrusion. These were somewhat different
from the symptom clusters in DSM-III-R, since effortful avoidance and
numbing symptoms did not load on the same factor. Numbing symptoms appeared
to be particularly important in identifying individuals with PTSD.
CONCLUSIONS: The results imply that there are two patterns of posttrauma
symptoms, one characterizing PTSD and the second characterizing a phobic
reaction.
Abstract Teaser