What Is Trauma? A Response to Rosen
Author:
William O’Donohue - Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno
Claudia Avina - Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno
Author
Note:
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to William
O’Donohue, Department of Psychology, Mail Stop 298, Reno, NV 89557.
E-mail: wto@unr.edu.
Abstract:
In Avina and O’Donohue (2002), we explicated the DSM–IV PTSD trauma criterion and argued that certain forms
of sexual harassment meet the diagnostic Criterion A of PTSD. We respond to Rosen’s (2004) claim that our argument
leads to a conceptual bracket creep and the creation of the conceptual equivalent of “pretraumatic” stress disorder.
Problems in Rosen’s critique of our argument are highlighted and our original claims are clarified.
