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Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Profiles of Battered Women: A Comparison of Survivors in Two Settings

1994; Springer Nature; Volume: 9; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1891/0886-6708.9.1.31

1945-7073

Daniel G. Saunders,

Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health

This study sought to develop a profile of posttraumatic stress symptoms experienced by battered women and to explore differences among subsamples. Two groups of survivors from five states were compared: 159 who had obtained help at domestic violence programs (DVP) and 33 who had obtained help at other types of programs (NDVP). They completed three self-report measures of posttraumatic stress and a fear questionnaire. Sixty percent of the women in the DVP group and 62% in the NDVP group met criteria for a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The most common symptoms were: nightmares intrusive memories of the abuse, avoiding reminders of it, and hyperarousal, and nightmares. DVP women experienced a variety of symptoms more frequently. Group differences in PTSD symptomatology were not present after statistically controlling for severity and frequency of the violence and length of time since the abusive relationship.