Predictors of a PTSD diagnosis following the Beirut port explosion: Comparing the direct and indirect effects of exposure to trauma

Objective

The Beirut Port explosion on August 4, 2020, led to widespread devastation and significant psychological impacts, including the development of psychological disorders like PTSD. This study investigates the predictors of PTSD following this event, focusing on the differences between direct and indirect exposure to trauma

Methods

The sample consisted of 743 Lebanese participants. The DSM-5 revised criteria for indirect exposure, including secondary traumatic stress, are considered. Measures included the PCL-5, DASS-21, RFQ-8, and CD-RISC-10.

Results

The study confirms that both direct and indirect exposures contribute to PTSD development, with direct exposure linked to more severe PTSD symptoms. It also highlights the importance of demographic factors like gender and age in PTSD prevalence, with women and younger individuals more susceptible to PTSD in indirect exposure scenarios.

Conclusions

Protective factors like mentalizing and resilience are discussed, revealing their complex relationship with trauma exposure. Our findings have significant implications for developing targeted prevention and intervention strategies for different trauma exposure types and subpopulations.