Reckless Self-destructive Behavior and PTSD in Veterans: The Mediating Role of New Adverse Events
Date
2017-06-23
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Abstract
The addition of self-destructive and reckless behavior as a symptom of posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) in DSM-5 has stimulated renewed interest in understanding
relationships between these behaviors and trauma-related psychopathology. This study
examined the relationship between reckless and self-destructive behaviors (RSDB),
intervening exposure to new adverse events, and later PTSD severity in a sample of traumaexposed
veterans. At baseline, participants were assessed for RSDB (past 5 years) and current
PTSD severity (N = 222). PTSD severity was then reassessed approximately 4 years later (N
= 148). Overall, RSDB were reported by 74.4% of the sample, with 61.3% engaging in
multiple forms of RSDB. The most commonly endorsed behaviors included alcohol/drug
abuse (42.8%), driving while intoxicated (29.4%), gambling (24.7%), and aggression
(23.1%). There was a positive correlation between RSDB and PTSD severity at both the
baseline (r = .16, p = .031) and follow-up assessment (r = .24, p = .005). Path models
indicated that exposure to new adverse events fully mediated the effect of Time 1 RSDB on
PTSD symptoms at Time 2 (indirect association: β = .05, p =.046). Results suggest that
RSDB are common among trauma-exposed veterans and may perpetuate PTSD symptoms by
increasing exposure to new adverse events.
Description
Author's final draft after peer review
Keywords
Citation
Lusk, J. D., Sadeh, N., Wolf, E. J. and Miller, M. W. (2017), Reckless Self-Destructive Behavior and PTSD in Veterans: The Mediating Role of New Adverse Events. JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, 30: 270–278. doi:10.1002/jts.22182