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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
This study analyzed the role of moral injury, self-awareness of mental states, self-integration of moral
injury in personal schemas, and perceived social on the severity of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
and depression symptoms. The sample was composed of Portuguese war veterans (n 60) divided into
2 groups: 30 experienced chronic PTSD (nonrecovered) and 30 had remission from PTSD (recovered).
A cross-sectional study was conducted using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative data
were obtained through 2 interviews per participant, and the quantitative data were collected using the
Impact of Event Scale–Revised and Brief Symptom Inventory. Content analysis was performed to
analyze qualitative data. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted predicting both PTSD and
depression symptoms. Recovered participants showed higher frequencies on moral injury, high selfawareness
of mental states, high self-integration of moral injury in personal schemas, and high perceived
social support. Differences in moral injury (yes vs. no) showed no differences in both PTSD and
depression symptoms. Participants who reported low self-awareness of mental states and self-integration
of moral injury in personal schemas showed higher mean value for both PTSD and depression symptoms.
Participants who reported low perceived social support showed higher mean value on depression
symptoms. Self-integration of moral injury in personal schemas and self-awareness of mental states were
predictors of both PTSD and depression symptoms. Combat exposure was a predictor of PTSD
symptoms. The authors discuss the role of reconciliation of morally incongruent experiences in personal
schemas and the ability to perceive and understand psychological states as key achievements in recovery
from PTSD and depression symptoms among veterans.
Description
Keywords
Depression Moral injury Personal schemas PTSD Self-awareness
Citation
Traumatology, 20(4), 277-285
Publisher
US : Educational Publishing Foundation