Citation

Dyer KF, Dorahy MJ, Hamilton G, Corry M, Shannon M, Macsherry A, McRobert G, Elder R, McElhill B. J. Clin. Psychol. (Hoboken) 2009; 65(10): 1099-1114.

Affiliation

Clinical Psychology Department, The Belfast HSC Trust, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jclp.20619

PMID

19676110

Abstract

This study examined the contribution of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis and symptomatology to the difficulties of anger, aggression, and self-harm in a Northern Ireland clinical community sample. A "current complex PTSD" (CCPTSD) group (n=11) was compared with a "current PTSD" group (n=31) on self-report measures of these variables. The CCPTSD group demonstrated significantly higher levels of physical aggression and self-harm than the PTSD group. The complex PTSD symptom of 'alterations in self-perception' was a significant predictor of aggression and history of self-harm, suggesting the potential role of posttraumatic shame and self-loathing in PTSD theoretical models of these destructive behaviors. Social desirability was a notable confounding influence in the assessment of anger, aggression, and self-harm in traumatised individuals.

Language: en