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Latent profile analysis of PTSD and dissociation, and relations with anger

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Abstract

Demographic and traumatic event-related risk factors for PTSD and dissociative symptoms have been examined in prior research. However, less research has examined this issue from a person-centered statistical approach to report subgroups of clinical presentations identified based on endorsed symptoms. The present study examined the relationship between PTSD, dissociation, and anger using this approach. We utilized a sample (N = 360) of trauma-exposed adults recruited via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Latent profile analysis (LPA) identified distinct profiles based on the indicators of PTSD subscale scores and a dissociation total score. The following latent profiles were identified: 1) low PTSD/low dissociation, 2) moderate PTSD/moderate dissociation, and 3) high PTSD/high dissociation. Additional analyses found differential relationships between the three profiles and anger, with individuals in the high PTSD/high dissociation profile exhibiting more anger. Results shed light on the high co-occurrence between anger and PTSD symptoms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Excellence in Substance Abuse Treatment and Education, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle Division, Seattle, WA, USA

    Tory A. Durham

  2. Summa Health Traumatic Stress Center, Akron, OH, USA

    Brianna M. Byllesby

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, Mail Stop #948, 2801 W. Bancroft St, Toledo, OH, 43606-3390, USA

    Jon D. Elhai

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA

    Jon D. Elhai

  5. Laboratory for Traumatic Stress Studies, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

    Jon D. Elhai & Li Wang

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  1. Tory A. Durham
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Correspondence to Jon D. Elhai.

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Tory A. Durham and Brianna M. Byllesby was collected online while the first and second authors were affiliated with the University of Toledo.

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Durham, T.A., Byllesby, B.M., Elhai, J.D. et al. Latent profile analysis of PTSD and dissociation, and relations with anger. Curr Psychol 41, 1595–1602 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00693-5

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