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Predictors of emotional numbing in posttraumatic stress disorder.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Litz, BT; Schlenger, WE; Weathers, FW; Caddell, JM; Fairbank, JA; LaVange, LM
Published in: J Trauma Stress
October 1997

Little is known about the mechanisms underlying emotional numbing (EN). The functional relationship between other classes of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and EN is also not well understood. In the present study, we examined the statistical predictors of EN. We hypothesized that the severity of EN would be most strongly associated with the hyperarousal symptoms rather than the avoidance symptoms of PTSD, or comorbid depression or substance abuse. This prediction was derived from psychological and biological models that posit EN to be a product of the depletion of emotional resources subsequent to chronic hyperarousal. Using hierarchical multiple regression in two separate samples of Vietnam combat veterans, we found hyperarousal symptoms to be the most robust predictor of EN. These data suggest that there is a substantive relationship between hyperarousal symptoms and EN in PTSD.

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Published In

J Trauma Stress

DOI

ISSN

0894-9867

Publication Date

October 1997

Volume

10

Issue

4

Start / End Page

607 / 618

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vietnam
  • Veterans
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Psychiatry
  • Personality Inventory
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Defense Mechanisms
 

Citation

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Litz, B. T., Schlenger, W. E., Weathers, F. W., Caddell, J. M., Fairbank, J. A., & LaVange, L. M. (1997). Predictors of emotional numbing in posttraumatic stress disorder. J Trauma Stress, 10(4), 607–618. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1024845819585
Litz, B. T., W. E. Schlenger, F. W. Weathers, J. M. Caddell, J. A. Fairbank, and L. M. LaVange. “Predictors of emotional numbing in posttraumatic stress disorder.J Trauma Stress 10, no. 4 (October 1997): 607–18. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1024845819585.
Litz BT, Schlenger WE, Weathers FW, Caddell JM, Fairbank JA, LaVange LM. Predictors of emotional numbing in posttraumatic stress disorder. J Trauma Stress. 1997 Oct;10(4):607–18.
Litz, B. T., et al. “Predictors of emotional numbing in posttraumatic stress disorder.J Trauma Stress, vol. 10, no. 4, Oct. 1997, pp. 607–18. Pubmed, doi:10.1023/a:1024845819585.
Litz BT, Schlenger WE, Weathers FW, Caddell JM, Fairbank JA, LaVange LM. Predictors of emotional numbing in posttraumatic stress disorder. J Trauma Stress. 1997 Oct;10(4):607–618.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Trauma Stress

DOI

ISSN

0894-9867

Publication Date

October 1997

Volume

10

Issue

4

Start / End Page

607 / 618

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vietnam
  • Veterans
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Psychiatry
  • Personality Inventory
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Defense Mechanisms