Adverse and Benevolent Childhood Experiences in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD): Implications for Trauma-Focused Therapies

Karatzias, Thanos; Shevlin, Mark; Fyvie, Claire; Grandison, Graeme; Garozi, Maria; Latham, Emma; Sinclair, Michael; Ho, Grace Wing Ka; McAnee, Grainne; Ford, Julian D.; Hyland, Philip

Abstract

Objectives
We set out to test, using latent variable modelling, whether adverse and benevolent childhood experiences could be best described as a single continuum or two correlated constructs. We also modelled the relationship between adverse and benevolent childhood experiences and ICD-11 PTSD and Complex PTSD (CPTSD) symptoms and explored if these associations were indirect via psychological trauma.

Methods
Data were collected from a trauma-exposed sample (N = 275) attending a specialist trauma care centre in the United Kingdom. Participants completed measures of childhood adverse and benevolent experiences, traumatic exposure, and PTSD and CPTSD symptoms.

Results
Findings suggested that adverse childhood experiences operate only indirectly on PTSD and CPTSD symptoms through lifetime trauma exposure, and with a stronger effect for PTSD. Benevolent childhood experiences directly predicted only CPTSD symptoms.

Conclusions
Benevolent and traumatic experiences seem to form unique associations with PTSD and CPTSD symptoms. Future research is needed to explore how benevolent experiences can be integrated within existing psychological interventions to maximise recovery from traumatic stress.

Citation

Karatzias, T., Shevlin, M., Fyvie, C., Grandison, G., Garozi, M., Latham, E., Sinclair, M., Ho, G. W. K., McAnee, G., Ford, J. D., & Hyland, P. (2020). Adverse and Benevolent Childhood Experiences in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD): Implications for Trauma-Focused Therapies. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11(1), Article 1793599. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1793599

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 27, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Aug 11, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020
• Deposit Date: Jun 29, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 29, 2020
• Journal: European Journal of Psychotraumatology
• Print ISSN: 2000-8198
• Electronic ISSN: 2000-8066
• Publisher: Co-Action Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 1793599
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1793599
• Keywords: PTSD, CPTSD, Benevolent Experiences, Adverse Experiences
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2672762