Peritraumatic Reaction Courses During War in Individuals With Serious Mental Illness: Gender, Mental Health Status, and Exposure

Marc Gelkopf, Liron Lapid Pickman, Shulamit Grinapol, Nomi Werbeloff, Eve B. Carlson, Talya Greene

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: We assessed in vivo symptom courses of early psychological responses during war and investigated the influence of exposure, gender, and a prior diagnosis of severe mental illness (SMI). Method: Participants were 181 highly exposed individuals from the general population and community psychiatric rehabilitation centers. A 30-day twice-daily Internet-smartphone-based intensive assessment two weeks into the 2014 Israel–Gaza war estimated peritraumatic symptom clusters, sense of threat, negative emotions and cognitions, and siren exposure during two periods that varied in exposure level. Piecewise growth curve modeling procedures were performed. Results: We found different courses for most variables, gender, and SMI status. Women were more reactive two weeks into the war but reduced their reactivity level at a faster pace than males, reaching lower symptom levels one month later. Women’s courses were characterized by arousal, negative emotionality, sense of threat, and reactivity to siren exposure. No-SMI men had a stable course followed by a significant reduction in arousal, negative emotions, avoidance, and perceived threat during a “return to routine” lower-level intensity period of the war. Individuals with SMI had higher reactivity levels at study onset; but while women with SMI improved over time, men with SMI worsened. SMI reactivity was characterized by negative cognitions, intrusions, and avoidance. Conclusions: Early reactions during prolonged exposure to war are variable, dynamic, and affected by exposure context. Symptoms, emotions, and cognitions develop differentially over time and are affected by gender and mental health status. The identification of various early stress courses should inform primary intervention strategies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)382-398
Number of pages17
JournalPsychiatry (New York)
Volume80
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2 Oct 2017

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We would like to acknowledge the Moshe Hess Association (Jerusalem, Israel) and NATAL: Israel Trauma Center for Victims of Terror and War (Tel Aviv, Israel) for their financial and manpower contribution in making this study happen, and Amir Hefetz and Gabriel Liberman from Datagraph Statistical Consulting for their statistical support.

Publisher Copyright:
© Washington School of Psychiatry.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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