A prospective exploration of the association between acute stress disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder in reaction to war: disengaged coping as a moderator

<b>Background:</b> Disengaged coping is often associated with worse mental health outcomes in reaction to stress. However, little research has explored the associations of disengaged coping and mental health consequences during warfare, especially its potentially moderating role in the relationship between acute stress disorder (ASD) and subsequent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the context of war-related trauma.<b>Objective:</b> This study examined (a) the association between ASD shortly after the outbreak of the 7 October war with PTSD 6 months later and (b) the moderating role of disengaged coping in the relationship between ASD and subsequent PTSD.<b>Method:</b> The study was conducted in the fourth week after the 7 October war started and included 341 Israeli citizens (women and men, Jews and Arabs) affected by the all-encompassing threatening situation in Israel. Questionnaires measured sociodemographic and war-related variables, ASD, disengaged coping, and PTSD.<b>Results:</b> The mean score for ASD was relatively high, whereas the mean score for subsequent PTSD was medium. The higher the ASD, the higher the use of disengaged coping and the level of PTSD. Additionally, a moderation effect was identified, indicating that the association between ASD and subsequent PTSD was present only at moderate to high levels of disengaged coping.<b>Conclusions:</b> During exposure to traumatic events, such as war, mental healthcare professionals should identify individuals who develop ASD and use disengaged coping and provide immediate psychological help to prevent the subsequent development of chronic symptoms, such as PTSD.