A pilot prospective study of the relationship among cognitive factors, shame, and guilt proneness on posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in female victims of sexual violence.

Abstract

This study prospectively examined the relationships among cognitive factors and

severity of Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in female victims of

sexual violence. Thirty-eight victims of sexual violence recruited from Center

for Women Victims of Sexual and Domestic Violence at Ajou University Hospital.

Cognitive factors and PTSD symptom were assessed within 4 months of sexual

violence and 25 victims were followed-up 1 month after initial assessment.

Repeated-measured ANOVA revealed that PTSD incidence and severity decreased over

the month (F [1, 21]=6.61). Particularly, avoidant symptoms might decrease

earlier than other PTSD symptoms (F [1, 21]=5.92). This study also showed the

significant relationship between early negative trauma-related thoughts and

subsequent PTSD severity. Shame and guilt proneness had significant

cross-sectional correlations with PTSD severity, but did not show associations

when depression severity is controlled. Our results suggest that avoidant

symptoms might decrease earlier than other PTSD symptoms during the acute phase

and that cognitive appraisals concerning the dangerousness of the world seem to

play an important role in the maintenance of PTSD (r=0.499, P<0.05).