Fatalism and ICD-11 CPTSD and PTSD diagnoses: Results from Nigeria, Kenya & Ghana

Levin, Yafit; Bachem, Rahel; Palgi, Yuval; Hyland, Philip; Karatzias, Thanos; Shevlin, Mark; Ben-Ezra, Menachem; Maercker, Andreas

Abstract

Background: Existing research on posttraumatic sequelae suggests a positive association between fatalism and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the associations between fatalism and the new ICD-11 diagnosis of complex PTSD (CPTSD) have never been explored before.

Objective: The current study explored the association between fatalism and PTSD and CPTSD in samples from three African countries.

Methods: A total of 2,524 participants from Nigeria (n = 1018), Kenya (n = 1006), and Ghana (n = 500) completed measures of fatalism (non-judgmental fatalism, current fatalism, pessimistic fatalism, prospective fatalism) and the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ). A combination of a Multinomial regressions and path analyses were used to identify fatalism predictors of PTSD and CPTSD versus no diagnosis, and CPTSD versus PTSD, adjusted for demographic variables and trauma exposure.

Results: Whereas PTSD was not predicted by any of the fatalism types, compared to no diagnosis, CPTSD was significantly predicted by pessimistic, non-judgmental and current fatalism, both compared to no diagnosis and PTSD.

Conclusions: The results broaden the knowledge on potential correlates of the new diagnosis of CPTSD. Addressing fatalistic beliefs by empowering people to think that they can choose their fate should be further explored as a possible target for intervention in the treatment of CPTSD.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 21, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 10, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021
• Deposit Date: Sep 30, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 30, 2021
• Journal: European Journal of Psychotraumatology
• Print ISSN: 2000-8198
• Electronic ISSN: 2000-8066
• Publisher: Co-Action Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 1988452
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1988452
• Keywords: Trauma; posttraumatic stress disorder; complex posttraumatic stress disorder; fatalism
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2806888