Exposure to War Trauma, War-Related PTSD, and Psychological Impact of Subsequent Hurricane

• Published in: Journal of psychopathology and behavioral assessment Vol. 24; no. 1; p. 25
• Main Authors: Sutker, Patricia B, Corrigan, Sheila A, Sundgaard-riise, Kirsten, Uddo, Madeline, Allain, Albert N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer Nature B.V 01.03.2002
• Subjects: Post traumatic stress disorder; Stress
• ISSN: 0882-2689; 1573-3505
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1014049123935

This study explored the impact of psychological outcomes to war on response to subsequent natural disaster. Participants were 312 military personnel, 66% of whom saw Gulf War duty. All were exposed to the 1992 Hurricane Andrew. Troops were compared on reported traumatic events, hurricane impact responses, and psychological symptoms in subgroups defined by war or no war exposure prior to hurricane and by presence or absence of war-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Data were gathered in face-to-face clinical assessments. War trauma prior to hurricane was associated with more reported traumatic events, greater fears for safety during the hurricane, and heightened psychological symptoms. Troops with preexisting war-related PTSD showed more adverse psychological hurricane sequelae and reported more traumatic events, higher depression, anxiety, anger, PTSD symptoms, and physical symptoms, and lower self-esteem than those free of diagnoses. Results point to the negative influence of exposure to one traumatic event on the experience of and response to a subsequent stressor.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]