ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of PTSD in subway fire accident survivors. METHODS: Subjects consisted of 129 survivors from the Daegu subway fire accident. The 129 subjects were registered at April, 2003, which was 2 months after the accident, and 49 of them were followed up from June to November 2004. Subjects were assessed at 2 months and 18 months after the accident. All participants completed BDI-II, SCL-90-R, MMPI, PCL-C, STAI-S, STAI-T and IES at the two time points, respectively. CAPS was only administered in the follow-up assessment. Statistical analysis was performed using Binary Logistic regression with SPSS 12.01. RESULTS: Only the BDI-II total scores at 2 months significantly predicted PTSD at 18 months. Other measures did not significantly predict PTSD. Conclusions: These findings suggest that high BDI-II total scores at the initial assessment may be regarded as a major predictor of PTSD. Accordingly, early treatment intervention may serve to prevent the chronicity of PTSD among accident survivors.
Subject(s)
Humans , Fires , Follow-Up Studies , Logistic Models , MMPI , Prospective Studies , Railroads , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , SurvivorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the personality factors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients to investigate the contribution of personality to the development of PTSD. METHODS : The PTSD group and Non-PTSD group with no other sympton met DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for major psychiatric disorders were selected among 129 survivors of Daegu subway fire accident. Of 129 survivors of the accident, 95 survivors who had faithfully resonded to the psychiatric evaluation were assessed with Catell's 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) and Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Of 95 survivors, 52 survivors were diagnosed to have PTSD. The results were compared among PTSD group, non-PTSD group and normal group. RESULTS : In 16PF measurement, the scores of Anxiety and Tender-mindedness were significantly higher in PTSD group than normal and Non-PTSD groups. And the scores of Liberalism was significantly higher in PTSD group than normal group. The scores of Warmth, Stableness, Dominance, Surgency were significantly lower in PTSD and Non-PTSD than normal group. The scores of Guilty-proness and Anxiety were significantly higher in PTSD and Non-PTSD groups than normal group. In STAI measurement, PTSD group showed higher scores than Non-PTSD and normal group. CONCLUSION : These results suggested that patients with PTSD group were disposed to tension, anxiety, inpatience, fatigue, dependence, concern and compassion. It indicates that development of PTSD is associated with personality factors such as Anxiety and Tender-mindedness. Further prospective studies are necessary to clarify how personality factors were involved in the development of PTSD.