Child maltreatment and adult psychopathology in an Irish context.

One-hundred-ninety-nine adult mental health service users were interviewed with a protocol that included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Structured Clinical Interviews for Axis I and II DSM-IV disorders, the Global Assessment of Functioning scale, the SCORE family assessment measure, the Camberwell Assessment of Need Short Appraisal Schedule, and the Readiness for Psychotherapy Index. Compared to a U.S. normative sample, Irish clinical cases had higher levels of maltreatment. Cases with comorbid axis I and II disorders reported more child maltreatment than those with axis I disorders only. There was no association between types of CM and types of psychopathology. Current family adjustment and service needs (but not global functioning and motivation for psychotherapy) were correlated with a CM history. It was concluded that child maltreatment may contribute to the development of adult psychopathology, and higher levels of trauma are associated with co-morbid personality disorder, greater service needs and poorer family adjustment. A history of child maltreatment should routinely be determined when assessing adult mental health service users, especially those with personality disorders and where appropriate evidence-based psychotherapy which addresses childhood trauma should be offered.

A qualitative exploration of how individuals reconstruct their sense of self following acquired brain injury in comparison with spinal cord injury.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the specific ways in which individuals reconstruct their sense of self following injury to the nervous system, by comparing individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) and individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), two groups that have experienced a sudden-onset injury with life-changing repercussions. RESEARCH DESIGN: Phenomenological qualitative research. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Nine individuals with ABI and 10 individuals with SCI took part in an interview exploring the ways in which individuals reconstruct their sense of self following injury. Data were analysed using interpretative thematic analysis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Findings showed similar themes identified within the interview data of the ABI and SCI groups. Both groups developed positive and negative self-narratives. Individuals employed strategies that facilitated the reconstruction of positive self-narratives. In addition, individuals described their sense of self as simultaneously continuous and changing. DISCUSSION: Findings are discussed in relation to proposed models of self-reconstruction post-injury to the nervous system.