The relations between posttraumatic stress disorder and persistent dissociation among ex-prisoners of war: A longitudinal study

To date, there are no empirical studies assessing the impact of war captivity on persistent dissociation (PD) and the longitudinal relations between captivity stressors, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and PD. The current study included two groups of male Israeli veterans from the 1973 Yom Kippur War: ex-prisoners of war (ex-POWs) and comparable veterans who were not taken captive. Both groups were assessed via self-report measures at three time points: T1 18 (1991), T2 30 (2003), and T3 35 (2008) years after the war. Results show that ex-POWs with PTSD reported higher levels of PD compared with ex-POWs and comparison non-POW veterans without PTSD at T3. Furthermore, PTSD symptoms at T1, T2, and T3 mediated the association between captivity and PD at T3. Loss of emotional control and detachment reactions to captivity, as well as posttraumatic intrusion symptoms, were associated with PD. Theoretical and clinical implications of these results are discussed.