Anger, aggression, and self-harm in PTSD and complex PTSD

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”...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of clinical psychology 2009-10, Vol.65 (10), p.1099-1114
Main Authors: Dyer, Kevin F. W., Dorahy, Martin J., Hamilton, Geraldine, Corry, Mary, Shannon, Maria, MacSherry, Anne, McRobert, Geordie, Elder, Rhonda, McElhill, Bridie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
aggression
Aggression - psychology
Aggressiveness
Anger
Anxiety disorders. Neuroses
Biological and medical sciences
Clinical psychology
Complex PTSD
DESNOS
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Northern Ireland
Post traumatic stress disorder
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
PTSD
Self destructive behavior
self-harm
Self-Injurious Behavior - psychology
Social Desirability
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - physiopathology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology
Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
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Summary: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. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 65:1–16, 2009.
ISSN:0021-9762
1097-4679
DOI:10.1002/jclp.20619