Effect of the interplay between trauma severity and trait neuroticism on posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among adolescents exposed to a pipeline explosion.

Wei Guo,Di Shao,Jiao-Mei Xue,Feng-Lin Cao,Zhou-Ting Long,Jon D Elhai

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0120493

Wei Guo, Di Shao + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0120493

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Journal: PloS one	Publication Date: Mar 20, 2015
Citations: 12	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Shandong University

Abstract

BackgroundWhile numerous studies have explored relevant factors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, there have been few joint investigations of trauma severity and trait neuroticism on the development of PTSD symptoms. This study aims to assess the involvement and interrelationship of trauma severity and neuroticism in the expression of PTSD symptoms among adolescents exposed to an accidental explosion.MethodsSix hundred and sixty-two adolescents were recruited from a junior middle school closest to the 2013 pipeline explosion site in China and were assessed using the Explosion Exposure Questionnaire, the NEO Five Factor Inventory-Neuroticism Subscale (FFI-N), and the PTSD Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C). A battery of hierarchical multiple regression analyses and two-way ANOVAs were performed to examine the effect of trauma severity and trait neuroticism on adolescent PTSD symptoms.ResultsEighty-seven adolescents (13.1%) showed PTSD symptoms after the pipeline explosion. Correlation analysis showed that all the factors of explosion exposure and trait neuroticism were positively associated with adolescent PTSD symptoms. Being male and younger was linked to lower risk for PTSD symptoms. The regression models identified explosion exposure and neuroticism as independent risk factors for PTSD symptoms, and the interactions between trait neuroticism and trauma exposure (personal casualty, degree of influence, total traumatic severity) were related to PTSD symptoms.ConclusionsThe results highlight the role of trauma exposure and trait neuroticism as risk factors for PTSD symptoms. Therefore, the combination of these two factors should be investigated in clinical settings due to an augmented risk for more severe PTSD symptoms.

Highlights

In the past two decades, destructive events have caused millions of deaths worldwide
Correlation analysis showed that all the factors of explosion exposure and trait neuroticism were positively associated with adolescent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms
The results highlight the role of trauma exposure and trait neuroticism as risk factors for PTSD symptoms

Summary

Introduction

In the past two decades, destructive events have caused millions of deaths worldwide. Sudden unexpected traumatic accidents, such as hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, mudslides, traffic accidents, airplane crashes, and explosions, have led to a broad range of serious and long-lasting negative physical and psychological consequences for both children and adult survivors. These include internalizing and externalizing psychopathology such as anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), borderline personality disorder, substance abuse, antisocial behaviors, suicidality, somatic complaints, nightmares, and overall reduced functioning [1,2,3,4,5]. This study aims to assess the involvement and interrelationship of trauma severity and neuroticism in the expression of PTSD symptoms among adolescents exposed to an accidental explosion.

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