Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2025

Biomarkers in an Animal Model for Revealing Neural, Hematologic, and Behavioral Correlates of PTSD
Published on: October 10, 2012
Beyond the mean: examining associations between intraindividual variability in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms
Brett A Messman1, Sidonia E Compton1, Ifrah Majeed1
1Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA.
Background/Objectives:
Posttrauma reckless behaviors have been linked to the onset and exacerbation of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, PTSD symptoms fluctuate across time, triggered by environmental stimuli in daily life, referred to as (intraindividual) variability in PTSD symptoms.
Design:
We utilized experience sampling methods to investigate associations between engagement in posttrauma reckless behaviors and variability in PTSD symptoms and the moderating role of emotion dysregulation in this association.
Methods:
Data from 166 trauma-exposed university students (Mage = 21.43 ± 5.07, 85.4% women) were collected between January 2019 to August 2020. Participants completed baseline and follow-up surveys to assess engagement in posttrauma reckless behaviors and daily surveys (10-days) to assess variability in PTSD symptoms. Results. Analyzes indicated greater baseline engagement in posttrauma reckless behaviors was associated with greater 10-day variability in PTSD symptoms (β = 0.23, p = .031), and baseline emotion dysregulation moderated this association (β = -0.33, p = .003). Additionally, greater 10-day variability in PTSD symptoms was associated with greater follow-up engagement in posttrauma reckless behaviors (β = 0.14, p = .045).
Conclusions:
Findings substantiate the interplay between engagement in posttrauma reckless behaviors and daily fluctuations in PTSD symptoms and support therapeutically targeting both engagement in posttrauma reckless behaviors and emotion dysregulation to impact PTSD symptoms.
More Related Videos
09:55Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
10:43Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity
Published on: July 1, 2014
Related Concept Videos
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
Borderline Personality Disorder
Genetic and Environmental Contributions
Borderline Personality...
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Behavioral Characteristics and...
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative Fugue
A hallmark feature of dissociative disorders is the dissociative fugue...
Dissociative Identity Disorder