Predictive factors of chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in rape victims

1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 281-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Darves-Bornoz ◽  
JP Lépine ◽  
M Choquet ◽  
C Berger ◽  
A Degiovanni ◽  
...  

SummaryThis study aimed to investigate the psychological disorders following rape as well as the course of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and to determine clinical factors predictive of chronic PTSD. Seventy-three rape victims were observed in a systematic follow-up study over 1 year following rape using structured interview schedules. The frequency of PTSD was massive. The early disorders predicting PTSD 1 year after rape included somatoform and dissociative disorders, agoraphobia and specific phobias as well as depressive and gender identity disorders and alcohol abuse. Through stepwise logistic regressions, the following were found to be good models of prediction of chronic PTSD 1 year after rape: for the characteristics of the traumas, intrafamily rape, being physically assaulted outside rape, and added physical violence during rape; for the early psychological and behavioural attitudes, low self-esteem, permanent feelings of emptiness and running away; and for early mental disorders, agoraphobia and depressive disorders. Finally, among all these predictive factors, added physical violence during rape, low self-esteem, permanent feelings of emptiness and agoraphobia were shown to constitute a strong model of predictors. People presenting features such as the predictive factors of chronic PTSD found in the study should be asked about a history of rape and symptoms of PTSD.

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e041469
Author(s):  
Alida J van der Ham ◽  
Hilde P A van der Aa ◽  
Peter Verstraten ◽  
Ger H M B van Rens ◽  
Ruth M A van Nispen

ObjectiveHaving a visual impairment is known to be associated with an increased vulnerability to (potentially) traumatic events. Little is known about how people with visual impairment experience and process such events. This qualitative study aimed to provide more insight into experiences with traumatic events, consequences of traumatic events and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related care among people with visual impairment and PTSD.MethodsEighteen persons with visual impairment and (a history of) PTSD were interviewed. Among them were 14 women and 4 men aged between 23 and 66 years. Recruitment of participants was done through health professionals from two low-vision service centres and a patient association for people with eye diseases and visual impairment in The Netherlands. Interviews focused on experiences with (1) traumatic events, (2) consequences of traumatic events and (3) PTSD-related care. Thematic content analysis of interview data was performed using ATLAS.ti. The COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ) checklist was used to check for completeness and transparency of the study. Data were collected between 2018 and 2020.ResultsThe most commonly reported traumatic events were sexual and physical abuse. Many participants experienced that their impairment had negatively affected their acceptance by others, independence and self-esteem, increasing their vulnerability for traumatic events. Additionally, having a visual impairment negatively impacted participants’ ability to respond to situations and aggravated post-traumatic stress reactions. Existing treatments seem suitable for people with visual impairment when accommodated to the impairment.ConclusionsHaving a visual impairment may affect traumatic events and post-traumatic stress reactions, particularly by contributing to low self-esteem, problems in social interactions and a lack of visual information. Insights from this study provide starting points for adapting pretraumatic and post-traumatic care to the needs of people with visual impairment.


2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 1457-1467 ◽  
Author(s):  
BIRGIT KLEIM ◽  
ANKE EHLERS ◽  
EDWARD GLUCKSMAN

ABSTRACTBackgroundSome studies suggest that early psychological treatment is effective in preventing chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it is as yet unclear how best to identify trauma survivors who need such intervention. This prospective longitudinal study investigated the prognostic validity of acute stress disorder (ASD), of variables derived from a meta-analysis of risk factors for PTSD, and of candidate cognitive and biological variables in predicting chronic PTSD following assault.MethodAssault survivors who had been treated for their injuries at a metropolitan Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department were assessed with structured clinical interviews to establish diagnoses of ASD at 2 weeks (n=222) and PTSD at 6 months (n=205) after the assault. Candidate predictors were assessed at 2 weeks.ResultsMost predictors significantly predicted PTSD status at follow-up. Multivariate logistic regressions showed that a set of four theory-derived cognitive variables predicted PTSD best (Nagelkerke R2=0·50), followed by the variables from the meta-analysis (Nagelkerke R2=0·37) and ASD (Nagelkerke R2=0·25). When all predictors were considered simultaneously, mental defeat, rumination and prior problems with anxiety or depression were chosen as the best combination of predictors (Nagelkerke R2=0·47).ConclusionQuestionnaires measuring mental defeat, rumination and pre-trauma psychological problems may help to identify assault survivors at risk of chronic PTSD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Youmna Sabri

Abstract Background United Nations considered intimate partner violence (IPV) as a serious problem affecting 35% of females all over the world requesting action to face this problem. There is strong evidence that the effect of violence against women has short-term and long-term negative outcomes on women physical health such as pain, wounds, fractures or even death in addition to serious psychiatric disorders for example anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study aims to evaluate the prevalence of different subtypes of (IPV) in a group sample of married females. Also, the current study will examine the relation of intimate partner violence with subsequent depression and post-traumatic stress disorder disorders among those females. Results This study highlights subtypes of intimate partner violence among the studied females according to the Composite Abuse Scale (CAS); the highest prevalence type of violence is harassment (72.2%) followed by physical violence (57.8%), severe combined violence (54.4%), emotional violence (53.3%), and finally the last one is sexual abuse (7.8%). Post-traumatic stress disorder distribution among studied females; the highest prevalence (n = 37, 41.1%) had mild PTSD, followed by 23 (25.6%) who were normal, and then n = 20 (22.2%) who had severe PTSD, while the least prevalence (n = 10, 11.1%) had moderate PTSD. In concern to depressive disorder distribution among studied females, the highest prevalence (n = 33, 36.7%) were normal, followed by 29 (32.2%) who had moderate depression, and then n = 12 (1.3%) who had severe depression, n = 9 (10.0%) who had mild depression, while the least prevalence (n = 7, 7.8%) had very severe depressive symptoms. Conclusions This study found that the prevalence of intimate partner violence among the studied females is high. In addition, the presence of a strong relationship between all subtypes of intimate partner violence and the diagnosis of PTSD and depressive disorder among studied females. Potential implications; these results can be applied clinically as females are exposed to the burden of IPV and should be helped empowered in various ways such as providing psychiatric counselling for those females.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene E. Jonker ◽  
Danielle A. M. Lako ◽  
Mariëlle D. Beijersbergen ◽  
Marit Sijbrandij ◽  
Albert M. van Hemert ◽  
...  

In this study, linear mixed-effects regression analyses were used to examine whether sociodemographic variables, abuse-related variables, and well-being variables were associated with symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in abused women residing in shelters. Results pointed out that symptoms of depression severity were positively associated with migration background and the experience of physical abuse and negatively associated with self-esteem and social support. PTSD symptoms were positively associated with the experience of sexual abuse and negatively associated with self-esteem. Within women’s shelters, staff could be sensitive to improving the social integration of women, especially those with a non-Dutch background, and strengthening the women’s social networks and their self-esteem.


2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 1227-1231 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. SPIVAK ◽  
R. MAAYAN ◽  
M. KOTLER ◽  
R. MESTER ◽  
I. GIL-AD ◽  
...  

Background. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a multisystem neurobiological disorder with chronic alterations in various neurochemical systems. Levels of the GABAA – antagonistic neurosteroids plasma dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulphate derivate, dehydro-epiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) may be relevant to depressive and anxiety disorders, including PTSD.Methods. We assessed the circulatory levels of morning plasma DHEA and DHEAS in 21 male out-patients with untreated chronic combat-related PTSD (CR-PTSD), and 18 healthy control male subjects.Results. Compared with the control subjects, the PTSD patients showed significantly higher plasma DHEA and DHEAS levels.Conclusions. Chronic CR-PTSD may be associated with increased circulatory level of neuroactive steroids with inhibitory activity at the GABAA receptors. Neurosteroid-induced decreased GABA-ergic tone may be relevant to the symptomatology and pathophysiology of chronic PTSD, as well as to the frequent co-morbidity of PTSD with depression and anxiety disorders.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S721-S721
Author(s):  
E. Ben Zina ◽  
M.W. Krir ◽  
H. Bel Hadj ◽  
R. Lansari ◽  
H. El Kefi ◽  
...  

IntroductionMaintaining self-esteem is a fundamental human motivation. Trauma may lower self-esteem, which contributes to the development and maintenance of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).ObjectivesAssessment of self-esteem in Tunisian military patients suffering from PTSD. Study of correlation between the severity of the PTSD symptoms and the rate of self-esteem.MethodsTransversal descriptive study of a sample of 22 patients treated for PTSD in the Tunisian Military Hospital during the period between August and October 2016.The PTSD Cheklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were administered for patients.ResultsAll the patients assessed were male. The mean age of the sample was 29.6 years. Fifty percent of the patients presented with a co-morbid major depression. Based on the score of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, patients had a self-esteem, which was very low in 45.45% of case, low in 45.45% of cases, average in 4.54% of cases and high in 4.54% of cases. The results also showed that lower levels of self-esteem are significantly correlated to the severity of the PTSD symptoms as measured by the PCL-5 score.ConclusionsThis study highlights the magnitude of self-esteem deficiency among patients suffering from PTSD. It remains unclear as to whether the relationship between trauma and depression is consistently mediated by a negative cognitive schema, such as low self-esteem, or whether trauma influences mood independently of low self-esteem. Further studies are required.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


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