Paranoia and post-traumatic stress disorder in the months after a physical assault: a longitudinal study examining shared and differential predictors. Issue 12 (December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Freeman, D.; Thompson, C.; Vorontsova, N.; Dunn, G.; Carter, L.-A.; Garety, P.; Kuipers, E.; Slater, M.; Antley, A.; Glucksman, E.; Ehlers, A.
• Is Part Of: Psychological medicine. Volume 43:Issue 12(2013)
• Page Start: 2673
• Page End: 2684
• Publication Date: 2013-12
• Subjects: Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; Clinical psychology -- Periodicals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1017/S003329171300038X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-2917

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="sec_a1"> <title>Background</title> <p>Being physically assaulted is known to increase the risk of the occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms but it may also skew judgements about the intentions of other people. The objectives of the study were to assess paranoia and PTSD after an assault and to test whether theory-derived cognitive factors predicted the persistence of these problems.</p> </sec> <sec id="sec_a2" sec-type="methods"> <title>Method</title> <p>At 4 weeks after hospital attendance due to an assault, 106 people were assessed on multiple symptom measures (including virtual reality) and cognitive factors from models of paranoia and PTSD. The symptom measures were repeated 3 and 6 months later.</p> </sec> <sec id="sec_a3" sec-type="results"> <title>Results</title> <p>Factor analysis indicated that paranoia and PTSD were distinct experiences, though positively correlated. At 4 weeks, 33% of participants met diagnostic criteria for PTSD, falling to 16% at follow-up. Of the group at the first assessment, 80% reported that since the assault they were excessively fearful of other people, which over time fell to 66%. Almost all the cognitive factors (including information-processing style during the trauma, mental defeat, qualities of unwanted memories, self-blame, negative thoughts about self, worry, safety behaviours, anomalous internal experiences and cognitive inflexibility) predicted later paranoia and PTSD, but there was little evidence of differential prediction.</p> </sec> <sec id="sec_a4" sec-type="conclusion"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Paranoia after an assault may be common and distinguishable from PTSD but predicted by a strikingly similar range of factors.</p> </sec> </abstract>