Thesis (M. S.)--University of Sydney. / Title taken from title screen (viewed October 8, 2007). Includes bibliographical references (p. 146-177).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. / "December 2005." Title taken from title screen (viewed October 8, 2007). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (J.C.L.)--Catholic University of America, 1986. / Bibliography: leaves 117-129.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2005. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 137-151). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNR11561

Recent global conflicts have increased North American military involvement, leading to higher rates of combat-related stress amongst soldiers. Although physical activity is directly correlated with improvements in mental health, the relationship between physical activity and combat-related stress has not been investigated. Using a mixed methodology approach, in this study, local military and ex-military personnel from Winnipeg, Canada, participated in a six week physical activity program in order to examine the influence of physical activity on combat-related stress. It was found that Canadian military members regularly deal with post-combat stressors, value camaraderie, and consider post-deployment support inadequate. The findings may lead to the integration of physical activity into the healing options of war related emotional stress. Future recommendations from this study are proposed. / February 2016

The thesis includes three papers: paper 1 is a literature review, paper 2 is an empirical study and paper 3 is a critical reflection. Paper 1 and 2 have been prepared for submission to Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy. Paper 1 systematically reviews the qualitative literature pertaining to individual experiences of psychotherapy for PTSD. A meta-synthesis of twelve studies was facilitated using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) principles. The meta-synthesis aimed to explore aspects of psychotherapy for PTSD that were deemed helpful or unhelpful. The strengths and limitations of the study are considered, as are their implications for clinical practice. Paper 2 was a qualitative exploration of basic emotions and the affective phenomena of PTSD. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten participants and transcripts were analysed using a deductive-inductive thematic analysis. The results highlight the importance of considering a range of basic emotions in the assessment, formulation and psychotherapy relating to PTSD. The strengths and limitations of the study are considered, as are their implications for clinical practice. Paper 3 is not intended for publication and is a critical reflection of the overall study process. It evaluates the strengths and limitations of both paper 1 and paper 2 in more detail, in addition to offering a critical and reflective account of conducting the research.

Background: Post-traumatic stress and exposure to early traumatic events are often characterised by negative self-cognitions and experiences of shame, guilt or blame. These symptoms are theoretically linked to the concept of self-compassion which is an important factor in affect regulation, and is predictive of mental wellbeing and psychological distress. Interventions aimed at increasing acceptance, non-judgement and self-compassion such as mindfulness may be useful in the treatment of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Methods: The first part of this portfolio presents a systematic review which aimed to collate and evaluate the existing research for the use of mindfulness based interventions to treat post-traumatic stress symptoms. The search process involved a systematic search of relevant research databases, hand search of relevant journals, and relevant authors were contacted. The second part of this portfolio presents a quantitative research study which explored the relationship between the experience of childhood trauma and self-compassion; and whether self-compassion was predictive of post-traumatic stress and growth in an adult clinical sample. Data were collected through postal survey and analysed using correlation and hierarchical regression analysis. Systematic Review Results: The systematic review resulted in 12 studies which met eligibility criteria, the majority of studies indicated positive outcomes with improvements in post-traumatic stress symptoms, particularly in reducing avoidance. Many of these studies lacked methodological rigour and further studies with more robust research design are required. Research Study Results: The quantitative study showed that greater experience of childhood emotional abuse, neglect, punishment and sexual abuse were significantly correlated with lower self-compassion in adulthood. Hierarchical regression showed that self-compassion was predictive of total post-traumatic stress symptoms, post-traumatic avoidance and intrusion when age, gender, exposure to traumatic events and childhood trauma were controlled. The experience of post-traumatic growth showed no significant relationship with self-compassion. Conclusions: Studies indicate that mindfulness interventions show promise for the treatment of PTSD symptoms, although further research with more robust methodology is needed. Greater experience of childhood abuse is related to lower self-compassion in adulthood and lower self-compassion is predictive of higher PTSD avoidance and intrusion symptoms. This suggests that future research investigating self-compassion interventions may be beneficial in treating PTSD.

Research related to positive psychological reactions following exposure to traumatic events, also known as post-traumatic growth (PTG), has suggested that support from others can facilitate such outcomes. The current study focused on whether people's perceptions of PTG differed based on the gender of a hypothetical survivor and nature of the trauma. Characterological differences amongst those who perceive growth as being more, or less, likely was also of interest. Perceptions of growth were measured in relation to three possible traumatic scenarios (vignettes) that were randomly assigned to participants. Following the vignette, participants completed a variety of self-report measures. Contrary to previous PTG literature, there were no consistent characterological differences among participants who did, and who did not, perceive growth as a possible outcome following trauma exposure. PTG was not related to nature of the trauma or gender of the survivor. Implications for clinical practice and future directions for research are discussed.

No description available.

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / The post-traumatic stress syndrome has traditionally been defined and treated as pathology residing within the individual. The systemic interactional approach which is favoured in this study, however, holds that all subsystems of the larger system are interconnected and that change within the individual subsystem therefore constitutes change in other subsystems. The question that is posed in this thesis, is whether the theoretical assumptions of the systemic approach may be applied to create a better, fuller understanding of the post-traumatic stress syndrome. Theoretical discussion of both a traditional and a systemic approach to the post-traumatic stress phenomenon, as well as their practical application by means of a case study, indicates that the traditional perspective on the posttraumatic stress syndrome is valuable in terms of diagnosis of the disorder and identification of possible causitive stressful life events. It is, however, very limiting in its specificity and does not allow for a full understanding of the diversity of behaviours presented by a system that has been traumatized, directly or indirectly. In this respect, the systemic interactional approach allows the therapist a wider perspective in which individual behaviour may be systemically contectualized, rendering the behaviour interactionally meaningful. Although the system typically presents with one member who apparently suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, this study indicates that the whole fa~ily system may in fact come to crisis if the traumatic event cannot be accommodated within the existing interactional patterns. Under such conditions it may be functional to the family system to keep one subsystem overtly symptomatic in order-to focus its attention away from its own pain, thereby trapping theindividual in his symptomatic behaviour. The study thus aims to indicate the value that a systemic interactional approach may have in dealing with the effects of trauma on both the individual and the larger system.