Post-traumatic stress in 30 male survivors of an airplane crash-landing was studied through interviews and questionnaires based on a nonpathological

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The effectiveness of the Rorschach in detecting acute posttraumatic stress (PTS) in Persian Gulf War veterans was investigated. Subjects were 30 U.S. Marine Reservists who reported experiencing symptoms of PTS after 3 months of active duty in Operation Desert Storm. Subjects were administered the Rorschach and MMPI-2 soon after their return from the Persian Gulf War. Results showed acute distress, a vulnerable capacity for coping and control, and a tendency to be overwhelmed by internal and external stimulation. Selected Rorschach variables were significantly related in a conceptually valid manner to MMPI-2 scales associated with defensiveness, coping ability, and PTS. These findings are discussed in relation to the assessment, understanding, and treatment of PTS symptomatology and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Many children with mild/moderate autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) receive care in general dental practice. We report a seven year old boy with ASD presenting with dental pain who auto-extracted one of his deciduous canines. Children with ASD may have hyposensitivity to pain and can exhibit unusual forms of self-injurious behaviour.

Post-traumatic stress in 30 male survivors of an airplane crash-landing was studied through interviews and questionnaires based on a nonpathological model of preventive psychological intervention and monitoring. Five questionnaires were given initially 12 days after the event and repeated at 2, 5, 10, and 12 months. Two of the brief measures were given weekly from 2 to 8 weeks after the event. As a group, the survivors experienced high levels of stress initially, which decreased rapidly and leveled off over time. There was, however, significant variability among individuals in this seemingly homogeneous group of college basketball players and supportive personnel in their experience of stress to the same traumatic event. There was also a marked contrast between group questionnaire results and individual verbal descriptions of their reaction to an unrelated, fatal airplane crash on the campus of the survivors I month after their own crash-landing. Questionnaire data are presented descriptively and discussed in relation to other normative data in the literature and to the methocls of observation in thisstudy. Recommendations are offered for professionals attempting this type offield study.