Understanding the experiences of people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.
Psychol Trauma
; 14(8): 1347-1355, 2022 Nov.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1671504
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
There has been great concern about the psychological implications of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on wellbeing and mental health worldwide. Previous pandemics have been associated with an increased risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, the experience of a pandemic for those with preexisting diagnoses of PTSD has not previously been researched. We aimed to understand the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic for people with a diagnosis of PTSD before the pandemic.METHOD:
Ten people, who were under the care of a specialist outpatient clinic for adults with PTSD during the COVID-19 pandemic, took part in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts.RESULTS:
Themes were identified relating to changes in how a sense of threat was experienced during the pandemic, with both factors increasing and decreasing threat recognized; challenges related to trying to cope with the pandemic; and resources that helped with coping.CONCLUSIONS:
Recommendations for clinicians working with people with PTSD during a pandemic are made. These include assessing for changes in the person's sense of threat and changes in triggers; supporting adaptation of prepandemic ways of coping and engagement with personal and professional support networks; and being alert to a possible increase or change in safety-seeking behaviors and addressing in the treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Psychol Trauma
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS