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Recovery from Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: A Qualitative Study of Attributions in Survivors of War

Author

Listed:
  • Dean Ajdukovic
  • Dea Ajdukovic
  • Marija Bogic
  • Tanja Franciskovic
  • Gian Maria Galeazzi
  • Abdulah Kucukalic
  • Dusica Lecic-Tosevski
  • Matthias Schützwohl
  • Stefan Priebe

Abstract

Objective: The study explored factors to which people traumatized by war attribute their recovery from posttraumatic symptoms and from war experiences. Methods: : In-depth interviews were conducted with two groups of participants with mental sequelae of the war in the former Yugoslavia: 26 people who had recovered from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 17 people with ongoing symptoms of PTSD. Participants could attribute their recovery to any event, person or process in their life. The material was subjected to thematic analysis. Results: Eight themes covered all factors to which participants attributed their recovery. Six themes described healing factors relevant for both groups of participants: social attachment and support, various strategies of coping with symptoms, personality hardiness, mental health treatment, received material support, and normalization of everyday life. In addition to the common factors, recovered participants reported community involvement as healing, and recovered refugees identified also feeling safe after resolving their civil status as helpful. Unique to the recovered group was that they maintained reciprocal relations in social attachment and support, employed future-oriented coping and emphasised their resilient personality style. Conclusions: The reported factors of recovery are largely consistent with models of mental health protection, models of resilience and recommended interventions in the aftermath of massive trauma. Yet, they add the importance of a strong orientation towards the future, a reciprocity in receiving and giving social support and involvement in meaningful activities that ensure social recognition as a productive and valued individual. The findings can inform psychosocial interventions to facilitate recovery from posttraumatic symptoms of people affected by war and upheaval.

Suggested Citation

  • Dean Ajdukovic & Dea Ajdukovic & Marija Bogic & Tanja Franciskovic & Gian Maria Galeazzi & Abdulah Kucukalic & Dusica Lecic-Tosevski & Matthias Schützwohl & Stefan Priebe, 2013. "Recovery from Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: A Qualitative Study of Attributions in Survivors of War," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(8), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0070579
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070579
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stephens, Christine & Long, Nigel & Miller, Ian, 1997. "The impact of trauma and social support on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A study of New Zealand police officers," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 303-314.
    2. ., 2003. "The Escape from Psychology," Chapters, in: Modeling Rational Agents, chapter 2, pages 41-134, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Priebe, Stefan & Bogic, Marija & Ashcroft, Richard & Franciskovic, Tanja & Galeazzi, Gian Maria & Kucukalic, Abdulah & Lecic-Tosevski, Dusica & Morina, Nexhmedin & Popovski, Mihajlo & Roughton, Michae, 2010. "Experience of human rights violations and subsequent mental disorders - A study following the war in the Balkans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(12), pages 2170-2177, December.
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