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To what extent do post-traumatic mental health and other problems reflect pre-existing problems? Findings from the prospective comparative population-based VICTIMS-study

Author

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  • Peter G. van der Velden
  • Carlo Contino
  • Marcel Das
  • Lutz Wittmann

Abstract

Background: Findings from prospective studies question the assumption that mental health problems observed in traumatized adults mainly reflect the effects of potentially traumatic events. Aims: Aim of the present comparative prospective study is to clarify the extent to which victims of potentially traumatic events with mental health, social, financial, and/or legal problems, already suffered from such problems before these events. Method: Data was extracted from three surveys of the prospective VICTIMS-study (T1 = 2018, T2 = 2019, T3 = 2020), conducted with the population-based longitudinal LISS-panel. Differences between victims ( n  = 340, victimized by violence, accidents, and serious threats in the 12 months before T3) and nonvictims ( n  = 3,872, not victimized by such events in this period), were examined using multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: The large majority of victims with current (at T3) anxiety and depression symptomatology (74%), general mental health problems (71%), partner/family (67%), financial (76%), and legal problems (58%), and lack of support (79%), already had these problems (at T1 and/or at T2). A similar pattern was observed among nonvictims. Of the victims with current probable PTSD (at T3), 87% already had any mental health problem. At T3, among both groups, the incidence of problems was substantially lower than their prevalence. The large majority of victims with post-event mental health, social, financial, and legal problems already suffered from these problems in the past. Conclusions: When victims seek help for their problems, professional care providers should be aware that in most cases, as among nonvictims, these problems are chronic/re-current rather than new problems.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter G. van der Velden & Carlo Contino & Marcel Das & Lutz Wittmann, 2023. "To what extent do post-traumatic mental health and other problems reflect pre-existing problems? Findings from the prospective comparative population-based VICTIMS-study," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(4), pages 841-852, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:69:y:2023:i:4:p:841-852
    DOI: 10.1177/00207640221140287
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter G van der Velden & Ivan Komproe & Carlo Contino & Marika de Bruijne & Rolf J Kleber & Marcel Das & Henk Schut, 2020. "Which groups affected by Potentially Traumatic Events (PTEs) are most at risk for a lack of social support? A prospective population-based study on the 12-month prevalence of PTEs and risk factors for a lack of post-event social support," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, May.
    2. repec:plo:pone00:0077266 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Sophie Hentschel & Michael Eid & Tanja Kutscher, 2017. "The Influence of Major Life Events and Personality Traits on the Stability of Affective Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 719-741, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. van der Velden, Peter G. & Contino, Carlo & Das, Marcel & Brouwers, Evelien & Marchand, Miquelle & Wittmann, Lutz, 2025. "Recent potential traumatic events and high PTSD-symptom levels are not associated with an increase in negative beliefs or expectations about oneself : A prospective, comparative, population-based study," Other publications TiSEM 19c656bb-9f5e-4a77-9b3a-f, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.

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