The Relationship Between Peritraumatic Dissociation and Anxiety Level, Perceived Stress, Anxiety Sensitivity and Coping with Earthquake Stress in Post-Earthquake Acute Stress Disorder Patients.

Objective: The present study aims to determine the effects of anxiety sensitivity, anxiety level, perceived stress and coping strategies on peritraumatic dissociation in post-earthquake acute stress disorder (ASD) patients.

Method: Sociodemographic data form, Beck Anxiety Index (BAI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3), Coping with Earthquake Stress Scale, and Peritraumatic Dissociation Scale (PDEQ) were applied to 477 patients diagnosed with ASD.

Results: Anxiety sensitivity cognitive sub-dimension explained 31.5%, anxiety explained 7%, and perceived stress explained 1% of the variation in peritraumatic dissolution development. A moderate positive correlation was determined between peritraumatic dissolution and anxiety, a weak positive correlation was found between peritraumatic dissolution and perceived stress, a weak positive correlation was determined between peritraumatic dissolution and positive thinking, and a very weak negative correlation was determined between peritraumatic dissolution and seeking social support. A moderate positive correlation was determined between peritraumatic dissolution and physical, cognitive and social sub-dimensions of anxiety sensitivity.

Conclusion: The most important finding in the study was the fact that the highest contribution to the development of peritraumatic dissolution was by the cognitive sub-dimension of anxiety sensitivity. It could be suggested that individuals with high anxiety sensitivity may experience higher peritraumatic dissolution and these individuals could have a higher risk of PTSD later on.