Background: Previous studies have suggested that PTSD is related to burden and psychological distress in the wives of combat veterans with PTSD. However, these links have not been studied in non veterans with PTSD. This study recruited NHS patients who were undergoing treatment for PTSD, along with their 'significant others', including partners, other family members and close friends. The links between levels of PTSD and the effects of PTSD on the psychological functioning and perceived burden in significant others were examined. Method: Two groups of participants were assessed. The first comprised 25 patients and the second comprised 25 nominated significant others. Patients completed a measure of trauma (IES-R) and significant others completed measures of anxiety and depression (HADS), burden (BI) and social support (MSPSS). Results: Spearman correlations revealed that the IES-R was not significantly associated with the BI and no statistically significant correlations were found between the IES-R and the anxiety and depression subscales of the HADS, or between the BI and the anxiety and depression subscales of the HADS. Furthermore, the MSPSS and BI were not significantly correlated. Conclusion: In contrast to previous research, there were no statistically significant relationships between levels of PTSD and levels of significant other burden. However, many patients were unable to nominate significant others. Analyses were underpowered; therefore it is not possible to conclude unequivocally that relationships between PTSD and burden do not exist, although it is not possible to draw firm conclusions based on the present data. The present study extends existing knowledge by including patients from an NHS setting and their significant others.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:726434 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Grieve, Alan |
| Publisher | University of Edinburgh |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/1842/24650 |
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