Criterion A,Peritraumatic Emotions,and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

The present study partially replicates and then expands on the work of Boals and Schuettler (2009) by evaluating the relationship between Criterion A, peritraumatic emotions, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Self-report measures were used to determine the presence or absence of the event Criteria A1 and A2, PTSD symptoms, and intensity of various types of emotions during a past event. Criterion A2 emotions were associated with higher levels of PTSD symptoms regardless of the presence or absence of a specific Criterion A1 event. Non-A1 events were associated with higher ratings of PTSD symptoms compared with A1 events; however, this effect for Criterion A1 no longer remained significant when time since the event was included as a statistical control. Finally, peritraumatic anger and guilt were significant predictors of PTSD symptoms above and beyond Criterion A2 while controlling for gender, negative affect, and months since the event.