engleski

Changes in structure and severity of PTSD symptoms in professional soldiers as a function of time and active army status

Studies conducted so far have revealed changing of combat - induce PTSD clinical picture as a function of time. It has been observed that initial symptoms of acute stress reaction (and acute PTSD as well) can withdraw or disappear and reappear in the form of partial or complete PTSD clinical picture (Figley, 1980 ; Foy, 1987 ; Sipprelle, 1992). Other studies have found that there may be different clinical profiles of PTSD, depending upon the type of combat experience, but also upon differences in adaptation to civilian life (Figley, 1987 ; Haley, 1978 ; Wilson, 1978 ; Jones and Belenky, 1995) and upon continuation of active Army status followint the war (Strech 1985, 1986). This study examines the differences in structure and severity of PTSD symphoms in three groups of professional Croatian Army soldiers (males) following the 8-12 months period. A - no PTSD symptoms (N=64), B - moderate symptoms (N=67) and C - Highly severe symptoms (N=60). The three groups have been extracted from the basic sample of 1719 soldiers on the basis of total score on the Croatian Stress Scale (Bunjevac and Kuterovac-Jagodić, 1996). In the second part of the study the Watson PTSD Questionnaire was administered to compare the clinical differences profiles of the C group and of the soldiers with PTSD diagnosis while on a clinical treatment (N=41). The differences observed have been tested through analysis of variance and the t-test. The results obtained have supported the previous findings on variable PTSD structure in time. The most significant chantes, in terms of increasing severity, were those observed in the A group. Also, there were significant changes found between soldiers who remained in service and those on the treatment: soldiers who continued their service showed less intrusive symptoms and increased arousal symphoms but also more of most avoidance symptoms compared to the soldiers on treatment.

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nije evidentirano