Inconsistency in trauma reporting: role of PTSD, depression and psychological distress in a longitudinal study among healthcare workers

BJPsych Open. 2026 Mar 10;12(2):e84. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2026.10983.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Accurate trauma recollections are essential in legal and research contexts; however, studies frequently reveal significant inconsistencies in trauma reporting over time.

AIMS: To investigate the trauma-reporting patterns among healthcare workers (HCWs) following their exposure to the Beirut port blast.

METHOD: This longitudinal study examined trauma memory alteration among 296 HCWs at 6 months (wave 3) and 2-2.5 years (wave 4) post-blast. Participants reported trauma exposure prior to the event, and probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) secondary to the Beirut port blast. Depression and psychological distress were analysed as potential predictors of memory alteration using multinomial models.

RESULTS: The majority of participants (72.4%) exhibited inconsistent trauma reporting, with 36.43% exaggerating and 35.71% diminishing their trauma accounts over time. Developing probable depression and screening positive for PTSD at wave 4 were predictors of memory exaggeration (respectively odds ratio 5.71, 95% CI: 1.19-27.32; odds ratio 8.04, 95% CI: 0.98-65.73), while remitted psychological distress was protective (odds ratio 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01-0.99). No significant predictors were found for memory diminishment.

CONCLUSIONS: A substantial portion of HCWs exposed to the Beirut port blast demonstrated inconsistent trauma reporting, with mental health conditions such as depression and PTSD influencing memory exaggeration. These findings underscore the importance of considering memory reliability in trauma research, particularly in populations with mental health disorders and exposed to major disasters.

PMID:41804257 | DOI:10.1192/bjo.2026.10983