@article{ref1,
title="Understanding the experiences of people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study",
journal="Psychological trauma: theory, research, practice, and policy",
year="2022",
author="Buttanshaw, Louisa E. and Purnell, Lucy R. and El-Leithy, Sharif M. and Pain, Abigail S.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: There has been great concern about the psychological implications of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on wellbeing and mental health worldwide. Previous pandemics have been associated with an increased risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, the experience of a pandemic for those with preexisting diagnoses of PTSD has not previously been researched. We aimed to understand the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic for people with a diagnosis of PTSD before the pandemic.
METHOD: Ten people, who were under the care of a specialist outpatient clinic for adults with PTSD during the COVID-19 pandemic, took part in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts.
RESULTS: Themes were identified relating to changes in how a sense of threat was experienced during the pandemic, with both factors increasing and decreasing threat recognized; challenges related to trying to cope with the pandemic; and resources that helped with coping.
CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations for clinicians working with people with PTSD during a pandemic are made. These include assessing for changes in the person's sense of threat and changes in triggers; supporting adaptation of prepandemic ways of coping and engagement with personal and professional support networks; and being alert to a possible increase or change in safety-seeking behaviors and addressing in the treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
",
language="en",
issn="1942-9681",
doi="10.1037/tra0001198",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0001198"
}