Three longitudinal studies are proposed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying longterm response to natural and human-caused trauma and the physiological correlates of stress following disasters and motor vehicle accidents. The first will follow participants in the currently funded study of disasters for an additional four years, extending prior analysis of chronic stress in the face of disaster and systematically testing for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and other health problems, physical health difficulties, and psychophysiological evidence of stress. The second study will follow a newly recruited group of disaster victims for three years, beginning one month after the disaster, and will also measure psychological and physiological aspects of stress, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and other psychiatric syndromes, and overall health. By initiating investigation soon after the disaster, this study will extend prior analyses by allowing examination of relationships between acute distress and early responses/symptoms and chronic stress and long-term outcomes. Comparisons between natural and human-caused disasters will be made as a part of both of these studies. The third study will investigate the short and long-term psychophysiological sequelae of another source of trauma, motor vehicle accidents. A group of people involved in motor vehicle accidents will be studied, beginning one month after the accident, for three years and measures will address acute and chronic stress, mental and physical health, and longterm well-being. Comparisons between types of disasters and trauma produced by motor vehicle accidents will address one goal of the project, the evaluation of the generalizability of findings from studies of different sources of trauma. Other objectives of the proposed research include evaluation of physiological changes that precede, accompany, or follow emergence of symptoms of emotional distress, post-traumatic stress, and other mental and physical health problems, and the comparability of patterns of adjustment following different types of extreme stressors.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH040106-05
Application #
3378066
Study Section
Life Course and Prevention Research Review Committee (LCR)
Project Start
1985-04-15
Project End
1995-04-30
Budget Start
1991-05-01
Budget End
1992-04-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
U.S. Uniformed Services University of Health Science
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Bethesda
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
20814
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Hawk, L W; Dougall, A L; Ursano, R J et al. (2000) Urinary catecholamines and cortisol in recent-onset posttraumatic stress disorder after motor vehicle accidents. Psychosom Med 62:423-34
Fullerton, C S; Ursano, R J; Epstein, R S et al. (2000) Peritraumatic dissociation following motor vehicle accidents: relationship to prior trauma and prior major depression. J Nerv Ment Dis 188:267-72
Ursano, R J; Fullerton, C S; Epstein, R S et al. (1999) Peritraumatic dissociation and posttraumatic stress disorder following motor vehicle accidents. Am J Psychiatry 156:1808-10
Benight, C C; Ironson, G; Durham, R L (1999) Psychometric properties of a hurricane coping self-efficacy measure. J Trauma Stress 12:379-86
Ursano, R J; Fullerton, C S; Epstein, R S et al. (1999) Acute and chronic posttraumatic stress disorder in motor vehicle accident victims. Am J Psychiatry 156:589-95
Dougall, A L; Craig, K J; Baum, A (1999) Assessment of characteristics of intrusive thoughts and their impact on distress among victims of traumatic events. Psychosom Med 61:38-48
Delahanty, D L; Herberman, H B; Craig, K J et al. (1997) Acute and chronic distress and posttraumatic stress disorder as a function of responsibility for serious motor vehicle accidents. J Consult Clin Psychol 65:560-7
Ironson, G; Wynings, C; Schneiderman, N et al. (1997) Posttraumatic stress symptoms, intrusive thoughts, loss, and immune function after Hurricane Andrew. Psychosom Med 59:128-41

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