THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SYMPTOMS OF POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE IN SURVIVORS OF VAN EARTHQUAKE

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Psychological resilience (PR) is a multi-dimensional construct assessing “perception of future”, “perception of self”, “social competence”, “structured style”, “family cohesion” and “social resources”. PR has been reported to be protective from psychiatric disorders, particularly Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. We aimed to assess the association between PR and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PSS) in survivors of Van earthquake. METHODS: Survivors of Van earthquake happened in October and November 2011, who have experienced at least one substantial earthquake and have lost homes (n=34) have been interviewed approximately one month after the last earthquake they experienced. Psychiatric interviews and standardized assessments have been conducted. The possible association between PSS and PR was examined. RESULTS: PSS found to be significantly correlated with PD (r=-0.384, p<0.05). Impairment in “perception of self” and “perception of future” was found to be correlated with “re-experiencing” and “irritability” dimensions of PSS (r=-0.442, p<0.01 and r=-.451, p<0.01, respectively). Impairment in social support was correlated with “avoidance” (r=0.666, p<0.01) and “irritability” symptoms (r=-.520, p<0.01). DISCUSSION: Our findings provide preliminary information in suggesting that PR might be protective from PSS. Considering “perception of self” and “perception of future” for prevention and/or treatment of “re-experiencing”. Furthermore, “social support” might be important for managing symptoms of “avoidance” and “irritability”. These findings might be useful for future studies with larger samples

Keywords

• posttraumatic stress disorder, psychological resilience

Van Depremi sonrasında travma sonrası stres bozukluğu belirtilerinin psikolojik dayanıklılık ile ilişkisi

Öz

ÖZET: Psikolojik dayanıklılık (PD), ruhsal hastalıklardan “koruyucu” olduğu bilinen “kendilik algısı”, “gelecek algısı”, “yapısal stil”, “sosyal yeterlilik”, “aile uyumu” ve “sosyal kaynaklar” gibi özellikleri birlikte değerlendiren çok boyutlu bir kavramdır. PD’nin ruhsal bozukluklardan, özgül olarak da travma sonrası stres bozukluğundan (TSSB) koruyucu olabileceği bildirilmektedir. Bu çalışmada, Van Depremi sonrasında TSSB belirti kümeleri ile PD’yi belirleyen bileşenlerin ilişkisinin araştırılması amaçlanmıştır. YÖNTEM: 2011 yılı Ekim ve Kasım aylarında Van’da meydana gelen depremlerden en az birini yaşayan ve evi yaşanmaz duruma gelen 34 kişi ile son yaşadıkları depremden yaklaşık bir ay sonra görüşülmüş, PD düzeyleri ve TSSB belirtileri standardize ölçeklerle değerlendirilmiştir. PD bileşenleri ve TSSB belirti grupları arasındaki olası istatistiksel ilişki araştırılmıştır. SONUÇLAR: PD’deki azalmanın TSSB belirtileri ile ilişkili olduğu saptanmıştır (r=- 0.384, p<0.05). Özgül olarak kendilik ve gelecek algısındaki yetersizliğin TSSB’deki “yeniden yaşantılama” (r=-0.442, p<0.01) ve “irritabilite” belirtileri ile (r=-.451, p<0.01); sosyal kaynaklardaki yetersizliğin “kaçınma” (r=-0.666, p<0.01) ve “irritabilite” (r=-.520, p<0.01) belirtileri ile ilişkili olduğu görülmüştür. TARTIŞMA: Bulgularımız, psikolojik dayanıklılığın TSSB’den korunma konusunda etkili olabileceği konusunda öncül veriler sunmaktadır. TSSB’de gözlenen “yeniden yaşantılama” ve “irritabilite” belirtilerinin önlenmesi ve/veya tedavisi için “kendilik ve gelecek algısını” hedefleyen müdahale stratejileri önemli olabilir. Ayrıca “kaçınma” ve “irritabilite” grubu belirtilerin önlenmesi ve tedavisi için “sosyal kaynakların” dikkate alınması gereklidir. Daha geniş örneklemli çalışmalarla desteklenmesi koşuluyla bu sonuçlar tedavi ve önleme stratejileri planlanırken dikkate alınabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• posttravmatik stres bozuklukları, psikolojik dirençlilik

Kaynakça

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