Peritraumatic Reactions Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic Among the Tunisian General Population

This is the first study to explore factors associated with peritraumatic reactions experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic among the Tunisian general population. A web-based survey was conducted between 23 March and 5 May 2020, so that 1615 responses were included. We used the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory and Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire. Participants with a medical history, those undergoing compulsory quarantine and those having relatives affected by or dying from COVID-19 were significantly more likely to present higher Peritraumatic Distress Inventory and Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire scores. Factors associated with higher levels of peritraumatic reactions should be targeted by national programs to prioritize assistance through early psychological interventions.

Feelings, Thoughts, and Behaviors During Disaster

Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors during traumatic events, that is, peritraumatic reactions, are key to post-trauma psychopathology development. Qualitative research is required to investigate whether existing quantitative methods capture the range and complexity of peritraumatic reactions as described by survivors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 104 earthquake survivors. Participants reported experiencing various peritraumatic reactions ( M = 21, range = 6–43). The survivors’ accounts confirmed presence and overall phenomenological characteristics of commonly studied peritraumatic reactions such as dissociation, distress, mental defeat, and immobility. In addition, novel and understudied reactions were identified: cognitive overload, hyperfocus, and emotion regulation, as well as positive affect. Finally, a number of cross-cutting phenomena were identified such as the social nature of many reactions and survivors evaluating their reactions as difficult to put into words. These findings have implications for the conceptualization of peritraumatic reactions, for trauma-focused psychotherapeutic interventions, and for the wellbeing of disaster survivors.