A cluster analysis among refugees diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder: a high and low psychopathology cluster

Abstract

Previous research with other trauma populations demonstrated a distinction between a high psychopathology group and a low psychopathology group within a sample of PTSD patients. Factors in which both groups differ are the number of traumatic events, active coping, avoidant coping and social support. The present study tested this distinction in a sample of 103 Dutch refugees. Cluster analysis was used to divide the groups and ANOVA was used to investigate the factors and the differences between the groups. The results confirm previous research, suggesting that a high psychopathology group and a low psychopathology group exist. The high psychopathology group experienced more traumatic events, more avoidant coping and less social support than the low psychopathology group. This study is one of the first cluster-analytic investigations of Dutch refugees with PTSD. Nothing can be said about the causality of these results and further research is necessary. Implications for future research and practical implications are discussed.