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Are Negative Cognitions Associated With Severe Acute Trauma Responses?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2012

Reginald D.V. Nixon  and
Richard A. Bryant
Reginald D.V. Nixon*
Affiliation:
Flinders University, Australia.
Richard A. Bryant
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, Australia.
*
Address for correspondence: Reginald D.V. Nixon, School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, SA 5001, Australia. E-mail: reg.nixon@flinders.edu.au
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Abstract

Recent cognitive models of trauma response predict that negative trauma appraisals are central to the development of psychopathological stress reactions. Fifty-nine civilian survivors of motor vehicle accidents (MVA; n = 24) and nonsexual assaults (n = 35) were assessed within 4 weeks of their traumatic event for acute stress disorder (ASD), prior traumatic events and prior mental health contact, and were administered the Anxiety Sensitivity Index and the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory. Participants who were diagnosed with ASD displayed more maladaptive appraisals about their functioning following their trauma and reported higher levels of concern regarding anxiety symptoms than those who were not diagnosed with ASD. Negative beliefs were strongly associated with acute stress severity. These findings are discussed in the context of cognitive mechanisms that may influence maladaptive adjustment following trauma.

Type
Standard Papers
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , 01 March 2005 , pp. 22 - 28
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

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