The COVID-19 pandemic does not fit into prevailing Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) models, or diagnostic criteria, yet emerging research shows traumatic stress symptoms as a result of this ongoing global stressor. Current pathogenic event models focus on past, and largely direct, trauma exposure to certain kinds of life-threatening events. Nevertheless, among a sample of online participants ( N = 1,040) in five western countries, we found participants had PTSD-like symptoms for events that had not happened and when participants had been directly (e.g., contact with virus) or indirectly exposed to COVID-19 (e.g., via media). Moreover, 13.2% of our sample were likely PTSD-positive, despite types of COVID-19 “exposure” (e.g., lockdown) not fitting DSM-5 criteria. The emotional impact of “worst” experienced/anticipated events best predicted PTSD-like symptoms. Our findings add to existing literature supporting a pathogenic event memory model of traumatic stress.

中文翻译：

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为什么COVID-19大流行是令人痛苦的压力源

COVID-19大流行不适合盛行的创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）模型或诊断标准，但新兴研究表明，由于这种持续的全球压力源，导致了创伤性压力症状。当前的病原事件模型着眼于过去且主要是直接暴露于某些威胁生命的事件的创伤。但是，在五个西方国家的在线参与者样本中（N = 1,040），我们发现参与者具有未发生事件的PTSD样症状，以及参与者直接（例如接触病毒）或间接暴露于COVID时-19（例如，通过媒体）。此外，尽管COVID-19“暴露”类型（如锁定）的类型不符合DSM-5标准，我们的样本中仍有13.2％可能是PTSD阳性。“最糟糕”的经历/预期事件的情感影响最能预测PTSD样症状。我们的发现增加了现有文献，支持创伤性应激的病因事件记忆模型。