Impulsivity and post-traumatic stress

Although it has been predicted from the compulsive reexposure hypothesis that PTSD is positively associated with sensation seeking, empirical data do not support this hypothesis but suggest that PTSD may actually be associated with lower sensation seeking. In an attempt to resolve the confusion over the association between sensation seeking and PTSD, we investigated the association between PTSD and scores on the Impulsivity questionnaire (I7: Eysenck, Pearson, Easting & Allsopp, 1985) in survivors of the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster. The I7 makes a distinction between two components of impulsivity: Impulsiveness and Venturesomeness. Impulsiveness is regarded as the pathological aspect of risk taking behaviour. People high on Impulsiveness exhibit less awareness of the future consequences of their activities. Venturesomeness, on the other hand, refers to risk taking behaviour in the knowledge that there is a risk involved. Although no significant difference was found between high and low PTSD symptom survivors on Venturesomeness, high PTSD symptom survivors scored higher on Impulsiveness than low PTSD symptom survivors providing support for the compulsive reexposure hypothesis.