Peritraumatic Distress and Dissociation in People with and without Disabilities Utilizing Emergency Departments

Graduation Year

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.A.

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Degree Granting Department

Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling

Major Professor

Tammy Jorgensen-Smith, Ph.D., CRC

Co-Major Professor

Chih-Chin Chou, Ph.D., CRC

Committee Member

Jessica L. Rice, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Amber Mehmood, MBBS, MPH, FCPS

Committee Member

Connie Walker-Egea, Ph.D., RDN, LND

Keywords

chronic health condition, emergency room, patient experience, trauma

Abstract

To date the literature on peritraumatic distress and peritraumatic dissociation in individuals receiving emergency medical treatment has not examined people with disabilities or chronic health conditions as a specified population, despite these populations’ disproportional utilization of medical facilities and additional stressors faced in those environments. Thus, this study assessed and compared the prevalence and averages on the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI) and Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ) in people with and without disabilities and/or chronic health conditions after Emergency Department (ED) visits. A sample of 138 participants 18 years of age or older, of which 109 reported disabilities and/or chronic health conditions and 29 did not report disabilities and/or chronic health conditions, anonymously responded to a series of electronic retrospective questionnaires regarding their treatment experiences at emergency departments within the prior 3 months. Results showed peritraumatic distress, in particular, is significantly more prevalent among participants with disabilities and/or chronic health conditions compared to participants without disabilities and/or chronic health conditions. Participants with disabilities and/or chronic health conditions also had higher average scores on the PDI and PDEQ.

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