Abstract
This study investigated maladaptive post-traumatic cognitions, so-called “stuck-points”, from forty-three adolescent survivors of interpersonal traumatization. Thematic content and relationships between stuck-points and trauma characteristics as well as symptom severity were analyzed. Guilt, esteem and trust were the most frequently named themes. Physical abuse was related to stuck-points in the categories trust and control, sexual abuse was related to the categories safety and guilt. Penetration, female sex, an older age at trauma onset and a closer relationship to the perpetrator were related to the category guilt. Injuries through physical violence were related to the category trust. Physical violence and a longer duration of the index trauma were related to a higher number of stuck-points overall. Last, a higher number of stuck-points in the category trust was related to higher post-traumatic stress disorder symptom severity. Therapists should pay attention to these different themes in order to provide the best possible treatment for each patient individually.
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Data Availability
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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This study was funded by DLR with the support code: 01KR1204A
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Janina Botsford, Maja Steinbrink, Eline Rimane, Rita Rosner, Regina Steil and Babette Renneberg declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of study formal consent is not required.
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Botsford, J., Steinbrink, M., Rimane, E. et al. Maladaptive Post-traumatic Cognitions in Interpersonally Traumatized Adolescents with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: An Analysis of “Stuck-Points”. Cogn Ther Res 43, 284–294 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-018-9928-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-018-9928-3