Alexithymia Predicts Posttraumatic Growth and Distress After Trauma

The present study sought to investigate how alexithymia (a deficit in identifying and describing emotions) may hinder the development of posttraumatic growth (PTG) and contribute to ongoing distress. Participants were 250 undergraduate college students who had experienced a highly stressful event in the past six months. Regression analyses were conducted to examine how alexithymia contributes to PTG and distress in addition to other known predictors. Analyses revealed that alexithymia was a significant negative predictor of PTG, and a significant positive predictor of distress. It was also found that Difficulty in Identifying Feelings was the alexithymia component that best predicted PTG and distress.     

Posttraumatic Growth Among Australian Farming Women After a Flood

There has been limited research into the impact of disasters on farming women, although it has been suggested that this population can face certain physical, social, and economic disadvantages that affect their recovery. In this study, we explored the impact of the 2010–2011 floods in the state of Victoria in Australia on the lives of six farming women with 20-50+ years of farming experience. Interpretative phenomenological analysis revealed that the women experienced posttraumatic growth, transitioning from helplessness and emotional distress to acceptance and understanding. Although further research is needed, the findings suggest that engagement in meaningful activity contributed to these women’s recovery after the flood. This knowledge may be used to inform the delivery of services and resources in flood-prone rural areas. Highlights: Three themes emerged from the data (helplessness, adapting to change, and self-discovery); findings can be related to dimensions of posttraumatic growth; and engagement in meaningful activity appeared to facilitate positive change.     

A Comparison of Posttraumatic Growth After Acquired Brain Injury or Myocardial Infarction

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is known to occur following acquired brain injury (ABI). It is not yet known to what extent PTG experiences following ABI are unique to the neurological nature of the injury. We investigated PTG in survivors of ABI or myocardial infarction (MI); MI is comparable to ABI but does not have a primary neurological element. Thirty-three ABI survivors (age M = 51.6, SD = 12.4; 52% male; years since injury M = 5.5, SD = 5.3) and 47 MI survivors (age M = 66.4, SD = 9.9; 79% male, years since injury M = 9.9, SD = 8.6) completed a survey including the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Unadjusted analyses showed no significant group differences on PTGI total score (ABI M = 54.0, SD = 19.6; MI M = 54.6, SD = 23.6; d = .03, p = .902) or on any of the five subscales, but analyses adjusted for covariates showed that scores on “Relating to others” were higher in participants with ABI (unstandardized coefficient = 5.43; 95% CI .27, 10.60; p = .039). Open-ended comments revealed aspects of growth in both samples that were not directly captured by the five PTGI factors.     

Life After Facing Cancer: Posttraumatic Growth,Meaning in Life and Life Satisfaction

Although it is known that facing cancer may be accompanied by a range of chronic and acute stress reactions, it can also contribute to positive psychological changes and influence one's life perception. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate relationship between posttraumatic growth (PTG), meaning in life and life satisfaction to determine whether the presence of meaning or the search for meaning mediated the relationship between PTG and life satisfaction. The study was conducted with 149 cancer survivors who were at least one-month post-completion of all medical cancer therapy. The results indicate positive associations between PTG, the presence of meaning in life, the search for meaning and life satisfaction. Moreover, the relationship between PTG and life satisfaction could be explained by the mediating effect of the presence of meaning in life. Thus, it is important for clinicians to systematically facilitate PTG, meaning in life and life satisfaction as protective factors to one's daily functioning.

     

Cognitive Processing Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Secondary to a Motor Vehicle Accident: A Single-Subject Report

Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) are fairly common occurrences in all developed countries. Although only a small percentage of total MVAs result in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the high base rate in the population has resulted in the estimation that MVAs are the leading cause of PTSD in the United States. Occupations that require substantial travel, such as long-haul trucking, significantly increase the risk of being exposed to a traumatic MVA. Developing PTSD secondary to such exposure can be disabling and can thus have significant and specific implications for occupational functioning. This case study describes the successful treatment, using Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), of a long-haul trucker diagnosed with PTSD after a serious MVA. The intervention is described and the results discussed with specific attention both to this case as well as to its generalizability to the larger MVA trauma population.     

Posttraumatic Growth in Combat Veterans

Combat veterans and their families face significant challenges not only to their abilities to cope, but often to their fundamental belief systems. Traumatic events represent assaults on core beliefs, yet at times, produce cognitive processing that can ultimately result in personal transformations called posttraumatic growth (PTG). Clinicians can utilize a systematic therapeutic approach to facilitate PTG as they carry out a relationship of expert companionship. PTG in service members is described in this article, as well as the approach to facilitation of PTG.     

Breast Cancer as Trauma: Posttraumatic Stress and Posttraumatic Growth

Diagnosis and treatment of cancer has been associated with both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and posttraumatic growth (PTG). This cross-sectional study sought to assess the frequency, common predictors, and interrelationships of PTSD symptoms and PTG in breast cancer survivors (n = 65). In this sample, symptoms of PTSD and reports of PTG were common and were not significantly related to one another. Greater social constraints on talking about breast cancer and perception of cancer as a traumatic stressor were associated with greater PTSD symptomatology. Younger age and perception of cancer as a traumatic stressor were associated with greater PTG. Findings suggest the central role of subjective appraisal in adjustment to cancer. Psychosocial interventions should be sensitive to the potential for PTG, both in treatment design and in assessment of outcomes.     

Long Term Posttraumatic Growth After Breast Cancer: Prevalence,Predictors and Relationships with Psychological Health

This study evaluated the prevalence and predictors of long term posttraumatic growth (PTG) after breast cancer, and relationships of PTG with psychological health in a random sample of 307 currently disease-free women 5–15 years after diagnosis. This cross-sectional study reveals long term posttraumatic growth scores comparable to those found in shorter term studies. Prevalence of a better appreciation of life is especially noteworthy. With the exception of perceived current sequelae of disease associated in a somewhat curvilinear fashion with PTG, demographic and medical variables are poor predictors of the issue. On the contrary, dispositional positive affectivity and adaptative coping of positive, active, relational, religious and to some extent denial coping have a strong effect on growth. Finally, PTG is slightly associated with mental quality of life and happiness. Findings are discussed in the light of posttraumatic growth theory.     

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Chronic Pain Arising from Motor Vehicle Accidents: Efficacy of Interoceptive Exposure Plus Trauma-Related Exposure Therapy

Preliminary data are presented on the pattern of treatment response of combining interoceptive exposure (IE) with trauma-related exposure therapy (TRE) in five female patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid chronic musculoskeletal pain originating from motor vehicle accidents. Treatment consisted of four sessions of IE followed by eight sessions of TRE. Four participants reported a reduction in PTSD symptoms after completing treatment, and three no longer met diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Although both interventions were associated with reductions in PTSD symptoms, TRE was associated with greater reductions in PTSD symptoms than IE and was particularly effective at reducing avoidance. IE was associated with larger reductions in anxiety sensitivity than TRE. Pain symptoms lessened slightly during IE and then worsened following TRE. Anxiety decreased after completing treatment, whereas panic and depressive symptoms responded less so. Three individuals completed a 3-month follow-up assessment. There was no change in their PTSD diagnostic status, and all experienced a slight loss of pre–post gains, particularly involving the return of pain. Clinical and research implications are discussed.     

Coping Functions of Prayer and Posttraumatic Growth

Research on prayer and posttraumatic growth (PTG) indicates that those who pray report more PTG. Research is beginning to identify which types of prayer may be operating in this relationship. We sought to identify specific prayer functions related to PTG while considering differences due to the types of trauma experienced. Participants were trauma survivors from diverse, Midwestern Christian churches (N = 327). Participants completed questionnaires assessing trauma history, prayer coping functions, and PTG. Multiple linear regression analyses found that praying for calm and focus was independently related to higher levels of PTG. When considering all variables in the model, the relationship between prayer for calm and focus and PTG was not significant for those whose most significant trauma was interpersonal in nature, but significant for those with noninterpersonal trauma.     

PTSD and Emotional Distress Symptoms Measured After a Motor Vehicle Accident: Relationships with Pain Coping Profiles

This study explored differences among pain patients classified as Dysfunctional, Interpersonally Distressed, and Adaptive Copers on the Multidimensional Pain Inventory with respect to PTSD symptomatology, anxiety, and depression. Eighty-five patients with pain complaints who had experienced a serious motor vehicle accident were classified into these three pain coping categories and assessed using clinician and self-report measures. Results indicated that patients classified as Adaptive Copers (n = 24) showed less PTSD symptomatology, anxiety, and depressed mood, relative to individuals classified as Dysfunctional (n = 36) and as Interpersonally Distressed (n = 25), who did not differ on these dimensions. Emotional responses during the accident (fear, helplessness, danger, perceived control, and certainty that one would die) did not differentiate the groups. Pain profiles contributed to the prediction of self-reported PTSD symptoms, controlling for state anxiety. These data suggest that pain patients with both Dysfunctional and Interpersonally Distressed coping profiles are at elevated risk for a range of posttrauma problems following a serious motor vehicle accident.     

Posttraumatic Growth, Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Mental Health Among Coronary Heart Disease Survivors

The present study aimed to estimate posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among heart disease survivors and examine whether PTG moderates the association between PTSS and mental health. Data from 82 myocardial infarction and acute coronary artery bypass graft survivors (aged 46–82) was obtained at admission to a cardiac rehabilitation unit. Mental status was assessed by the PTSD Inventory, Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Mental Health Inventory and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL). 17.1 % of the participants suffered significantly from PTSS and most of the study sample (71.2 %) reported PTG. PTSS were positively associated with PTG and psychological distress and negatively with well-being and HRQOL. PTG moderated the association between PTSS and most mental health outcomes. We conclude that posttraumatic growth may attenuate the negative effect of posttraumatic stress symptoms on mental health.     

Posttraumatic Growth in the Context of Heart Disease

The concept of positive consequences arising as a result of coping with traumatic experiences, such as life-threatening illness, represents an emerging area of empirical study in the stress and health literature. This study investigates three specific psychosocial variables (personality, social support, and coping) in relation to posttraumatic growth in a population of individuals coping with heart disease. The results indicate that Extraversion was the most significant predictor of growth, and there is evidence that Problem-Focused Coping partially mediated this relationship between Extraversion and posttraumatic growth. The role of Social Support Satisfaction in predicting growth remains unclear. Findings emphasize the importance of personal and environmental factors in psychological interventions aimed at improving the adjustment and posttraumatic growth of heart patients. Directions for future research are proposed.     

Evaluating Resource Gain: Understanding and Misunderstanding Posttraumatic Growth

In a response to an article by Hobfoll and colleagues, theoretical and empirical considerations regarding the concept of posttraumatic growth are reviewed. It is noted that posttraumatic growth should be assessed as such, with measures developed specifically to address this construct; that it follows a challenge to and re-examination of core beliefs, not every bad experience; it can be influenced by many factors; it can coexist with distress during stages of the process without indicating that growth is unimportant or negative; and it can follow various trajectories, including ones where it may at first serve one function, but later involve personally transformative changes.
En réponse à un article de Hobfoll et al., des réflexions théoriques et empiriques concernant le concept de croissance post-traumatique sont menées. On note que la croissance post-traumatique doit être estimée à partir de mesures qui lui sont propres. Il est aussi souligné que la croissance post-traumatique survient après un défi et un réexamen des croyances fondamentales et non après chaque expérience négative. La croissance post-traumatique peut être influencée par de nombreux facteurs, elle peut coexister avec la détresse durant les étapes du processus sans que, pour autant, cela soit un indicateur d'une croissance négative ou peu importante. Enfin, elle peut suivre des trajectoires variées, y compris celles où elle remplit au départ une fonction et ultérieurement est impliquée directement dans des changements.     

Ceiling Effects and Floor Effects of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory

The current study investigated the effects of a brief psycho-educational presentation about posttraumatic growth (PTG: positive changes that may occur as a result of psychological struggle with a highly stressful life event) on the self-reported PTG by using the PTG Inventory (PTGI). Few empirical studies have investigated the possible ceiling or floor effects of the PTGI, despite researchers indicating the necessity of longitudinal studies to reveal the PTG processes. This study used a pre-test, brief presentation, and post-test longitudinal design to examine the effects of intervention among adolescents by considering the floor and ceiling effects of the PTGI. Participants, 54 high school students (37 females, 17 males, Mean age?=?15.92 years), completed the PTGI at three weeks interval. Results using the Latent Rank Theory approach demonstrated ceiling effects in students who reported a high degree of PTG at Time 1, and floor effects in students with low PTG at Time 1. Presentation effects were not evident even in those who reported a moderate degree of PTG at Time 1. These findings suggest that it is important to be aware of the ceiling/floor effects while measuring changes in PTG perception over time and that explaining the phenomenon of PTG is not likely to be enough to affect the PTG perceptions.     

Variables Related to Posttraumatic Growth in Turkish Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, deteriorative disease, which can cause great psychological distress. Although RA has negative psychological consequences, it may also lead to positive changes, which has been given relatively little attention in the research literature. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) has been used to evaluate growth in survivor’s thinking, feeling and/or behavior following the experiencing of traumatic or severely adverse life events. The purpose of the current study was to examine the domains of the PTGI and to identify variables related to Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) in 117 RA patients from Turkey, a secular, Islamic, non-western developing country. Results showed that the PTGI has three domains: relationship with others; philosophy of life; and self-perception. Regression analyses showed that problem-focused coping had significant contributions to the total PTG levels and PTGI domains of relationship with others and self-perception. Perceived social support appeared as a significant associate for the total PTG levels and for all three domains. In addition, age and perceived disease severity were found to be significantly related to some domains of PTG. Clinicians, aiming to increase positive experience of RA patients, may need to focus on and facilitate perceived social support and problem-focused coping to facilitate growth experiences.     

Prevalence and Predictors of Posttraumatic Growth in Accidentally Injured Patients

This study examined prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic growth in 180 accidentally injured patients of mainland China in their convalescence stage, investigating its relationships with demographic and accidental injury variables, personality, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and coping styles. Our results showed that posttraumatic growth (PTG) presented mostly in the domain of Relating to Others and indicated that PTG was significantly related to marital status, educational level, personality, coping styles, and PTSD symptoms. Avoidance of PTSD symptoms, Openness to experience, and positive coping were significant predictors of PTG. The findings emphasize that when promoting PTG of accidentally injured patients, healthcare providers should facilitate patients utilizing personal resources, understand PTG coexists with PTSD symptoms, and adjust interventions based on the coping styles the patients have adopted.     

Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms Predict Posttraumatic Growth: A Longitudinal Study

Although posttraumatic growth (PTG) has received growing attention, the relationship between PTG and distress remains unclear. This longitudinal study examines the relationship between posttraumatic obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms and PTG. Israeli veterans were followed over 17 years using self-report questionnaires of OC symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and PTG. Hierarchical regression analyses demonstrated that OC symptoms predicted PTG, even when initial PTG levels and PTSD symptoms were controlled for in the combatants group. These preliminary findings suggest that OC symptoms may play an important role in facilitating psychological growth. Future research is warranted to explore the mechanisms responsible for this relationship.