Back to Search
Start Over
Changes in the network structure of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms at different time points among youth survivors: A network analysis.
- Source :
-
Journal of Affective Disorders . Dec2019, Vol. 259, p288-295. 8p. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>Despite considerable studies focused on the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), little is understood about how symptoms of PTSD change over time. The study aimed to use a network analysis approach to understand the nature of the association between PTSD symptoms at different time points among children and adolescents who experience an earthquake.<bold>Methods: </bold>A longitudinal study enrolled 1623 youth survivors who completed 3 assessments with the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after the Lushan earthquake. The epicentre was Baoxing Country that located in the Ya'an city (Sichuan Province in China). A network analysis approach was used to investigate how symptom networks change at different time points.<bold>Results: </bold>A total of 1623 youth survivors (768 male and 855 female) completed three assessments. Different centrality symptoms existed at different time points. Flashback and upset by reminders were centrality symptoms at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. The overall network connectivity was significantly stronger at 3 months than at 2 weeks (5.663 vs. 5.140, s = 0.523, p = 0.000), and significantly stronger at 6 months than at 2 weeks (6.094 vs. 5.663, s = 0.432, p = 0.020).<bold>Limitations: </bold>Participants from a specific region might limit the generalizability of our results. A self-report questionnaire was used to assess PTSD symptoms.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Re-experience cluster (flashback and upset by reminders) and their interactions might play a key role in PTSD symptom evolution. Over time, the global connectivity becomes stronger, suggesting that youth survivors are more vulnerable in the chronic phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *POST-traumatic stress disorder
*IMPACT of Event Scale
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01650327
- Volume :
- 259
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Affective Disorders
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 141606816
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.065