Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Women From a Psychometric Perspective

Herman's (1992a) formulation of complex PTSD was not incorporated into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed. [DSM-IV]; American Psychiatric Association, 1994), but finds ample confirmation in personality assessment of women in inpatient treatment for trauma-related...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personality assessment 1998-04, Vol.70 (2), p.277-298
Main Authors: Allen, Jon G., Coyne, Lolafaye, Huntoon, Janis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child Abuse - diagnosis
Child Abuse - psychology
Complex
Female
Humans
Medical sciences
Models, Psychological
Object Attachment
Patient Education as Topic
Personality Inventory
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychometric tests
Psychometrics
Psychometrics. Diagnostic aid systems
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - rehabilitation
Techniques and methods
Women
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Herman's (1992a) formulation of complex PTSD was not incorporated into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed. [DSM-IV]; American Psychiatric Association, 1994), but finds ample confirmation in personality assessment of women in inpatient treatment for trauma-related disorders. This study relates MCMI-III and Adult Attachment Scale scores to a self-report measure of childhood abuse and neglect, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Consistent with Herman's formulation, the data reveal a wide array of symptoms coupled with two facets of relationship disturbance: (a) enmeshment in ambivalence (depressive, dependent, and self-defeating personality as well as ambivalent attachment), and (b) more profound isolation (avoidant and schizoid personality coupled with profoundly insecure attachment). We present a model for using such psychometric findings in patient education and diagnostic evaluations.
ISSN:0022-3891
1532-7752
DOI:10.1207/s15327752jpa7002_7