Understanding the Emergence of Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Through Acute Stress Symptom Networks

Abstract

To accelerate recovery after traumatic events and prevent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it is critical to understand the dynamic interplay of acute stress symptoms and how they develop over time into chronic PTSD. Bryant et al 1 examined relationships among PTSD symptoms during the acute posttrauma period using network analyses. They concluded that symptoms highly central to the acute symptom network, such as intrusive trauma memories, may be especially important to the development of chronic PTSD.