Mediating role of avoidance of trauma disclosure and social disapproval in ICD-11 post-traumatic stress disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder: cross-sectional study in a Lithuanian clinical sample

BackgroundICD-11 includes a new diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), resulting predominantly from reoccurring or prolonged trauma. Previous studies showed that lack of social support is among the strongest predictors of PTSD, but social factors have been sparsely studied in t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BJPsych open 2021-11, Vol.7 (6), Article e217
Main Authors: Kvedaraite, Monika, Gelezelyte, Odeta, Karatzias, Thanos, Roberts, Neil P., Kazlauskas, Evaldas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
complex PTSD
Cross-sectional studies
Data collection
Disclosure
ICD-11
Mental health
Mental Health Services
Post traumatic stress disorder
Psychologists
PTSD
Questionnaires
Risk factors
social disapproval
Social support
Sociodemographics
trauma disclosure
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Summary:BackgroundICD-11 includes a new diagnosis of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), resulting predominantly from reoccurring or prolonged trauma. Previous studies showed that lack of social support is among the strongest predictors of PTSD, but social factors have been sparsely studied in the context of the ICD-11 definition of PTSD and CPTSD.AimsTo analyse the factor structure of the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) in a Lithuanian clinical sample and to evaluate the mediating role of social and interpersonal factors in the relationship between trauma exposure and ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD.MethodThe sample comprised 280 adults from out-patient mental health centres (age, years: mean 39.48 (s.d. = 13.35); 77.5% female). Trauma-related stress symptoms were measured with the ITQ. Social disapproval was measured with the Social Acknowledgment Questionnaire (SAQ) and trauma disclosure using the Disclosure of Trauma Questionnaire (DTQ).ResultsICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD prevalence among the participants in this study was 13.9% and 10.0% respectively. Results indicated that avoidance of trauma disclosure mediated the relationship between trauma exposure and PTSD as well as CPTSD, whereas social disapproval mediated only the relationship between trauma exposure and CPTSD.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that disclosure of traumatic experiences and support from closest friends and family members might mitigate the effects of traumatic experiences, potentially reducing the risk of developing CPTSD.
ISSN:2056-4724
2056-4724
DOI:10.1192/bjo.2021.1055