AN INDIVIDUAL IN FACE OF TRAUMA. ANALYSIS OF SELECTED MECHANISMS OF COPING WITH TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE

It is assumed that the more memory distortions and properties typical for traumatic events memory (lack of narratives, dominance of somatic, sensory and affective memories, great vividness and strong feelings) the more posttraumatic symptoms as evidenced by intensity level of Acute Stress Disorder (ASD). This result is in agreement with previous data of van der Kolk (2002) and Zdankiewicz-Scigala (2003). 56 subjects were studied. They were either culprits or victims of communications accidents, mainly car accidents. They all were patients of Traumatology Wards of various hospitals in Warsaw. There were three sessions with every subject: the first took place about three weeks after accident, the second about three months after and the last one about six months after the accident. Results of analysis of variance (for each criterion of ASD separately) show that the more untypical are memories of the accident, the stronger stress reaction to the accident, the greater number of intrusive thoughts and feelings and the greater deterioration of functioning caused by trauma.