Exploring Post-traumatic Growth in Parkinson's Disease: A Mixed Method Study.

Objectives: Post-traumatic growth (PTG) and its opposite—post-traumatic depreciation (PTD)—may be treated as important indicators of the patient quality of life. In the absence of studies on both, PTG and PTD in cancer patients, we investigated (1) coping strategies and support effectiveness as predictors of PTG and PTD in post-mastectomy women, (2) homogeneous classes with different intensity of PTG and PTD symptoms, and (3) correlates of class membership.Methods: Coping strategies (Brief COPE), support effectiveness (SSE-Q), PTG (PTGI), and PTD (negatively reworded items of PTGI) were measured in 84 post-mastectomy women (mean age = 62.27, SD = 8.38). Multiple regression, two-step cluster, and multinomial logistic regression were applied.Results: PTG and PTD had unique predictors: time since diagnosis and positive emotion-focused coping predicted PTG (R2 = 0.24), while negative emotion-focused and avoidance-focused coping and low support effectiveness were linked to PTD (R2 = 0.14). Four groups of PTG × PTD symptoms were identified: high PTG low PTD group (52.4%), low PTG low PTD group (17.9%), high PTG high PTD group (15.5%), and low PTG high PTD group (14.3%). Higher emotion- and avoidance-focused coping was characteristic for the high PTD low PTG group (R2 = 0.41).Conclusion: Our findings shed light on the coexistence and unique predictors of PTG and PTD after mastectomy, indicating heterogeneity in PTG and PTD levels among post-mastectomy women.

The study identified different patterns of symptom burden and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among patients with cancer and to explored the effects of sociodemographic, disease-related, and family resilience factors, which could provide reference for the development of personalized nursing measures. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 329 patients with cancer who were undergoing treatment. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to explore the patterns of symptom burden and PTG among patients with cancer, and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of different patterns. Based on the fit indicators of LPA, a three-class pattern model of posttraumatic responses was shown to be optimal, including resisting, struggling, and growth groups. In the resisting group (34.34%), patients reported low symptom burden and low PTG; in the struggling group (19.15%), patients showed a high symptom burden and moderate PTG; in the growth group (46.51%), patients showed low symptom burden and high PTG. Moreover, patients with cancer with high levels of family resilience were more likely to fall into the struggling and growth groups. Specifically, those with lower scores in the optimistic attitude and higher scores in the family and social support dimension of family resilience were more likely to fall into the struggling group, whereas those with lower scores in the transcendence and spiritual belief dimensions of family resilience were more likely to fall into the resisting group. Additionally, patients with at least three children were more likely to fall into the struggling group. This study showed heterogeneity in symptom burden and PTG patterns among patients with cancer. Patients' growth must include both psychological growth and the mitigated symptom burden. Family factors may be intervention targets to improve the growth patterns.

Initiating dialysis can produce psychological benefits. These positive changes, most frequently referred to as posttraumatic growth (PTG), have not previously been explored in these patients. To identify patterns in the temporal course of PTG in patients during their first 12 months of dialysis, and to relate to perceived stress. A prospective, longitudinal, observational study. The sample included 98 patients, aged from 18 to 70 years, who commenced dialysis in the nine nephrology units of the Basque Country, Spain. Three assessments were carried out at 1, 6 and 12 months, using a PTG questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale. ANOVAs with post-hoc analysis were performed to identify significant differences between the groups. Four groups were established based on the observed changes in PTG over time: high, increasing, decreasing and low PTG. Maintaining high PTG and decreasing PTG levels was associated with moderate levels of perceived stress. Four different patterns of PTG have been identified, contributing to our understanding of the dynamics of the process of growth and enabling us to identify patients who may be more vulnerable.

Objectives: The main focus of previous research into coping with breast cancer, have been mostly with regards to the negative impacts such as emotional stress, anxiety, depression or cognitive dysfunction. However, patients also report positive changes that have come about as a result of their struggle with cancer. This is referred to as posttraumatic growth (PTG). The aim of this study was to assess the presence of PTG in breast cancer patients at two measurements and to explore the association between personality traits (resilience, optimism, self-efficacy) and positive emotions on PTG. Patients and Methods: The study group comprised of 80 women (with a mean age of 53.6 years, SD=10.2) recently diagnosed with stage I to III breast cancer. They completed self-report measures of PTG, resilience, optimism, self-efficacy and positive emotions up to three weeks after diagnose (t1) and then following by an update six months later (t2). Sociodemographic characteristics, emotional distress, anxiety and depression were also recorded. Results: Planned comparison: Breast cancer patients showed an increase of PTG from t1 to t2 (p=.00035). Resilience, optimism, self-efficacy and positive emotions did not change in the total sample from t1 to t2. Emotional distress, anxiety and depression have significantly declined from t1 to t2 (anxiety p=.015, depression p=.029, emotional distress p=.000065). Moreover, we found a significant positive correlation between positive emotions to PTG (r=-.386, p=.0004) and optimism to PTG (r=.334, p=.002) at t2, respectively. Depression t2 correlated negatively to PTG at t2 (r=-.264 p=.018). Explorative results: We also calculated the difference between PTG t2 and t1. We found 67.5% (n=54) of the patients with an increase of PTG and 32.5% (n=26) without or with negative change. In a subgroup analysis we noticed that patients without benefit of PTG showed a decline of resilience (p=.015), self-efficacy (p=.028) and positive emotions (p=.045) between t1 and t2. Furthermore, anxiety and depression did not improve from t1 to t2 in this group. Conclusions: Positive emotions and optimism represent indicators of PTG in breast cancer patients. A decline of anxiety and depression is associated with a higher rate of PTG. Psycho-oncological strategies related to these factors may support PTG in breast cancer patients. Future studies are needed to search for effective interventions to support patients in PTG. Citation Format: Berndt U, Gottschlik Y, Leplow B, Thomssen C. Factors that influence posttraumatic growth in patients with breast cancer: A longitudinal trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-19-03.

Purpose After traumatic brain injury (TBI), individuals may face challenges in their social participation, self-awareness, and self-identity. However, positive life changes can also be experienced (i.e., post-traumatic growth). This study aimed to characterize the social participation, self-awareness, and self-identity of individuals with TBI displaying post-traumatic growth. Materials and methods Fifteen participants (male = 10, mean age = 49.7 years) with moderate to severe TBI (average years post-injury = 15.2) were included in this mixed-methods study. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess social participation, self-awareness, and self-identity. Qualitative data, collected using semi-structured interviews, were used to categorize participants into two groups: higher (n = 8) and lower (n = 7) post-traumatic growth. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize participants in each group in terms of their social participation, self-awareness, and self-identity. Results Participants with higher post-traumatic growth had increased social participation, higher self-awareness, and fewer negative discrepancies between their pre- and post-injury self-identities, compared to participants with lower post-traumatic growth. Conclusion This study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of post-traumatic growth through the use of both qualitative and quantitative data. These findings can inform future research and development of programs to promote post-traumatic growth post-TBI.

Background. The phenomenon of post-traumatic growth (PTG), which consists of significant positive changes in the personality due to the experience of a difficult life crisis, is currently considered an effective countermeasure to the destructive consequences of psycho-emotional stress. Purpose – is to determine the individual psychological predictors of PTG among medical students in the context of a large-scale social crisis. Materials and methods. In compliance with the requirements of biomedical ethics and based on informed consent, an anonymous questionnaire and psychodiagnostic examination of 152 medical students was conducted during October– November 2024. According to the subjective assessment of the severity of the stress experienced by an individual during their life, the students were distributed as follows: 7.2% of the surveyed assessed the most severe stress they experienced in their lives as mild, 23.7% as moderate, 42.8% as severe, and 26.3% as very severe. The psychodiagnostic tools of the study consisted of The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) questionnaire, the Mini-Mult questionnaire, and the J.B. Rotter locus of control measurement questionnaire. Results. It was found that the individual-personal profiles of students with low and high PTG are somewhat similar, with differences in the expressiveness of character traits, which are manifested by significantly higher indicators on the Mini-Mult scales: hypochondria (53.49 ± 10.01 points in students with low PTG vs 48.80 ± 10.18 in students with high PTG, p = 0.002), depression (49.08 ± 11.51 points vs 42.17 ± 9.81, p < 0.0001), hysteria (51.70 ± 10.16 points vs 45.77 ± 9.71, p < 0.0001), psychopathy (51.09 ± 14.69 points vs 44.44 ± 13.83, p = 0.008), rigidity (49.40 ± 11.66 points vs 44.63 ± 10.25, p = 0.018), psychasthenia (52.31 ± 12.01 points vs 45.07 ± 12.36, p < 0.0001) and schizoidism (53.19 ± 10.78 points vs 48.28 ± 10.74, p = 0.014). Students with low PTG were characterized by the dominance of the external locus of control, which is associated with the tendency to consider one’s own successes or failures as the result of mainly external forces, passivity, a sense of one’s own inferiority, low self-esteem and self-respect, a low level of aspirations and a desire for external support and help: 12.61 ± 3.90 points vs 10.99 ± 3.19 (p = 0.004). Students with high PTG were characterized by a greater expressiveness of the internal locus of control, which is associated with the belief in the ability to influence the course of events through their own activity, a high level of aspirations, activity in achieving goals, independence in judgments and actions, the desire to change reality, high self-esteem, and orientation to their own efforts to overcome problems: 12.00 ± 3.20 points vs 10.39 ± 3.90 for students with low PTG (p = 0.005). Correlation analysis revealed significant inverse correlations of the PTGI index with the indicators on the scales of psychasthenia (rS = –0.360), depression (rS = –0.307), hysteria (rS = –0.283), psychopathy (rS = –0.276), schizoidism (rS = –0.235), hypochondria (rS = –0.222) and rigidity (rS = –0.170). External locus of control was negatively correlated with PTG, and internal locus of control was positively correlated with PTG (rS = 0.165 and rS = –0.165, respectively, p = 0.042). Conclusion. The results obtained allow us to conclude that individual and personality characteristics are an important, but not the only factor of PTG, and determine the need for further research into relevant factors that may have an impact on PTG.

Post-traumatic growth and its predictors among Syrian refugees in Istanbul: A mental health population survey

Background: Due to the job characteristics, firefighters are repeatedly exposed to trauma incidents. However, not all firefighters exhibit the same level of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or post-traumatic growth (PTG). Despite this, few studies have looked into firefighters’ PTSD and PTG. Objective: This study identified subgroups of firefighters based on their PTSD and PTG levels, and investigated the influence of demographic factors and PTSD/PTG-related factors on latent class classification. Method: Latent profile analysis was used to examine the patterns of PTSD and PTG among 483 firefighters in South Korea. Using a cross-sectional design, demographic factors and job factors were examined as group covariates through a three-step approach. PTSD-related factors such as depression and suicide ideation, as well as PTG-related factors such as emotion-based response were analysed as differentiating factors. Results: Four classes were identified and named ‘Low PTSD-low PTG (65.2%),’ ‘Mid PTSD-mid PTG (15.5%),’ ‘Low PTSD-high PTG (15.3%),’ and ‘High PTSD-mid PTG (3.9%).’ The likelihood of belonging to the group with high trauma-related risks increased with more rotating shift work and years of service. The differentiating factors revealed differences based on the levels of PTSD and PTG in each group. Conclusions: 34.8% of firefighters experienced changes due to traumatic events while on the job, and some required serious attention. Modifiable job characteristics, such as the shift pattern, indirectly affected PTSD and PTG levels. Individual and job factors should be considered together when developing trauma interventions for firefighters.

BackgroundStudies have found that post-traumatic growth exists in patients with recent hysterectomy. However, previous studies have overlooked heterogeneity within groups. There is a lack of research on whether there are different categories of post-traumatic growth levels in patients with recent hysterectomy. Therefore, this study explores different categories of post-traumatic growth and their influencing factors in patients with recent hysterectomy based on latent profile analysis. It also analyses the relationship between stigma and different profiles of post-traumatic growth in patients.MethodsThis study, which used convenience sampling to select patients who underwent hysterectomy at the gynaecology department of a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, was conducted from February to September 2024. The study included 210 patients aged 18 years or over who had undergone a hysterectomy and had agreed to participate in the questionnaire survey. A total of 210 questionnaires were distributed and 202 valid responses were received. The study used the following scales: a general information questionnaire (covering patients’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics); post-traumatic growth inventory-Chinese version (C-PTGI); and social impact scale (SIS). The C-PTGI primarily measures the level of posttraumatic growth in patients with recent hysterectomy; higher total scores indicate greater posttraumatic growth. The SIS assesses the level of stigma experienced by patients with recent hysterectomy, with higher scores indicating a greater degree of stigma. The data were analysed using SPSS 25.0 and Mplus 8.3.ResultsPost-traumatic growth in patients with recent hysterectomy consisted of 3 types: negative growth group (18%), low-transformation-moderate growth group (53%), and positive growth group (29%). Significant differences in post-traumatic growth and scores on each dimension were found in different subgroups (P < 0.05). Patients with recent hysterectomy aged 40–59 were more likely to be classified as belonging to the positive growth group. Those with high scores on the internalized shame and social isolation dimensions were more likely to belong to the negative growth group. Compared with the positive growth group, educational attainment at elementary or junior high school level was a predictor of belonging to the low-transformation-moderate growth group.ConclusionHeterogeneity exists in the post-traumatic growth level of patients with recent hysterectomy. Younger patients with higher levels of education and lower scores on the SIS tend to experience better post-traumatic growth after hysterectomy. Healthcare professionals should adopt more flexible and targeted interventions to help patients enhance their post-traumatic growth levels under the premise of correctly identifying the characteristics of different potential categories. This can better improve the mental health status of patients, promote their postoperative recovery, and enhance their quality of life and satisfaction.

Background: Supporting wellbeing beyond symptom reduction is necessary in trauma care. Research suggests increased posttraumatic growth (PTG) may promote wellbeing more effectively than posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom reduction alone. Understanding neurobiological mechanisms of PTG would support PTG intervention development. However, most PTG research to-date has been cross-sectional data self-reported through surveys or interviews. Objective: Neural evidence of PTG and its coexistence with resilience and PTSD is limited. To advance neural PTG literature and contribute translational neuroscientific knowledge necessary to develop future objectively measurable neural-based PTG interventions. Method: Alpha frequency EEG and validated psychological inventories measuring PTG, resilience, and PTSD symptoms were collected from 30 trauma-exposed healthy adults amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. EEG data were collected using custom MNE-Python software, and a wireless OpenBCI 16-channel dry electrode EEG headset. Psychological inventory scores were analysed in SPSS Statistics and used to categorise the EEG data. Power spectral density analyses, t-tests and ANOVAs were conducted within EEGLab to identify brain activity differentiating high and low PTG, resilience, and PTSD symptoms. Results: Higher PTG was significantly differentiated from low PTG by higher alpha power in the left centro-temporal brain area around EEG electrode C3. A trend differentiating high PTG from PTSD was also indicated in this same location. Whole-scalp spectral topographies revealed alpha power EEG correlates of PTG, resilience and PTSD symptoms shared limited, but potentially meaningful similarities. Conclusion: This research provides the first comparative neural topographies of PTG, resilience and PTSD symptoms in the known literature. Results provide objective neural evidence supporting existing theory depicting PTG, resilience and PTSD as independent, yet co-occurring constructs. PTG neuromarker alpha C3 significantly delineated high from low PTG and warrants further investigation for potential clinical application. Findings provide foundation for future neural-based interventions and research for enhancing PTG in trauma-exposed individuals.

Posttraumatic growth has a positive impact on patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Patients with acute coronary syndrome in China report low to moderate levels of posttraumatic growth. Additionally, there is a dearth of research exploring the associations between resilience, social support, and posttraumatic growth in this specific patient population. This study examined whether resilience serves as a mediator between social support and posttraumatic growth in patients with acute coronary syndrome who had been discharged for 1 to 6 months and were being followed up in clinics. A descriptive correlational study design was utilized. A systematic sampling technique was used to recruit 121 patients with acute coronary syndrome who had been discharged for 1 to 6 months from cardiovascular clinics of a tertiary care hospital in Jiangsu Province, China. The research instruments included the demographic characteristics questionnaire, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. The data were collected between August 2022 and November 2022 and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analyses to determine the mediating effects. The level of posttraumatic growth among patients with acute coronary syndrome attending follow-up clinic visits was moderate (Mean = 60.58, SD = 14.13). Resilience had a direct and positive impact on posttraumatic growth (β = 0.361, p <0.001). Moreover, resilience fully mediated the relationship between social support and posttraumatic growth (indirect effect = 0.203, 95% CI [0.076, 0.331]; direct effect = 0.162, p = 0.101). Patients with acute coronary syndrome in China experience moderate posttraumatic growth after discharge. Resilience mediates the relationship between social support and posttraumatic growth. Therefore, nursing interventions focusing on promoting social support and resilience should be developed to encourage posttraumatic growth in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background:Various studies have assessed the negative and/or positive changes in the aftermath of traumatic events. Accidental injuries (such as accidents, injuries, etc.), for its high incidence and disability rate, is easy to cause serious psychological problems and hinder the physical and psychological rehabilitation of the patients.Material and Methods:To explore the characteristics of attention bias in accidentally injured patients with different levels of Posttraumatic growth (PTG), total score of PTG was adopted to screen out 15 high-PTG group and low-PTG group respectively among accidentally injured patients. Dot probe task was used with positive, negative and neutral facial expression pictures as experimental materials. An experimental design of 2 (facial expression: positive and negative)x2 (consistency of probe point and facial expression: consistent and inconsistent)×2 (PTG level: high and low) was employed.Results:Patients with low PTG level had attention bias toward the negative emotional stimuli, and difficulty in distraction from the negative emotional pictures. The value of D and DI were both significantly greater than 0 (p<0.05). Patients with high PTG level did not demonstrate significant attention bias toward positive or negative emotional stimuli. The responding time of patients with high PTG level was significantly shorter than that in patients with low PTG level in the incongruent task (p<0.05).Conclusion:There are different characteristics of implicit cognitive processing in patients with different level of PTG, suggesting the necessity of psychological intervention on the accidentally injured patients.

Simple SummaryA diagnosis of childhood cancer, and its subsequent treatment, initiates a difficult and long-lasting experience for families which can result in posttraumatic stress symptoms. However, positive change, such as growth, may also occur. The relationship between posttraumatic stress symptoms and growth in the wake of childhood cancer is poorly understood. We sought to better understand the relationships between children’s posttraumatic stress symptoms and growth and those of their parents via a survey. The results from our study showed that the children and parents in our study were faring relatively well, reporting low levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms and moderate levels of growth. The children’s posttraumatic stress symptom score was not related to, nor did it predict their growth. The same was true for their parents wherein their posttraumatic stress symptom score was not related to, nor did it predict their growth. Notably, lower posttraumatic stress symptom scores among children were associated with greater growth in their parents, and vice versa, but the parents’ posttraumatic stress symptom score was not associated with the children’s growth.There is a growing focus on describing both negative and positive outcomes in the wake of childhood cancer. The purpose of this study was to describe and explore the relationships between posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and posttraumatic growth (PTG) among children living beyond cancer and one of their parents. As part of a larger online survey, 113 children (Mage at time of study = 15.82 (SD = 4.81); Mage at diagnosis = 5.86 (SD = 4.66)) and one of their parents completed questionnaires assessing PTSS and PTG. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample and levels of PTSS and PTG. Data were z-transformed and analyzed using bivariate correlations and t-tests. An actor–partner interdependence model (APIM) was used to test whether children’s and their parents’ PTSS was associated with their own PTG (actor effect) and the others’ PTG (partner effect). PTSS was low and PTG was moderate in this sample relative to scale ranges. There were no significant differences between the children’s and their parents’ PTSS (p = 0.535) or PTG (p = 0.534). Results from the APIM showed no significant actor effects (p = 0.185). A significant overall partner effect (p = 0.020) emerged. Lower PTSS for children was associated with greater PTG for their parents (b = −0.29, p = 0.018), but parent’s PTSS was not associated with children’s PTG (p = 0.434). This sample reported similar levels of PTSS and PTG to that which has been reported in the literature. Children and their parents’ scores on PTSS and PTG measures were not significantly different from one another. Children’s PTSS was negatively associated with their parents PTG, illuminating the ways in which PTSS and PTG may be related in the context of childhood cancer. Exploring family-based strategies to reduce PTSS and enhance PTG may be warranted, though further studies are required.

Objective To identify the posttraumatic growth (PTG) level of cancer patients and to examine the effects of rumination on posttraumatic growth of cancer patients. Methods A total of 312 cancer patients were recruited by convenience sampling. A cross-sectional study was conducted in cancer patient by means of questionnaires that included demographic scale, Event Related Rumination Inventory and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Results A total score of event-related rumination in cancer patients was 25.13±11.11, and the total score of posttraumatic growth was 67.21±14.66. The PTG was positively correlated to event-related rumination in cancer patients (r=0.384, P < 0.01). Multiple stepwise regressions indicated that the variables of deliberate of rumination, gender, age, degree of psychological distress, intrusive rumination and education level were main predictors of PTG. Among those deliberate of rumination positively predicts PTG, while intrusive rumination negatively predicts PTG. The level of PTG in female gender cancer patients were higher than male patients, younger age and high education level, less psychological distress patients related to higher PTG. Conclusions Cancer patients reported a lower level of rumination and PTG. Clinical healthcare providers should inspire and promote cancer patients' deliberate rumination, decrease their intrusive rumination, pay attention to male, more psychological distress, older age and lower education level patients, in order to facilitate patients' PTG and then improve their quality of life. Key words: Neoplasms; Rumination; Posttraumatic growth

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the dyadic relationship between illness perception, emotion regulation strategies, and posttraumatic growth in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy and their family caregivers.MethodsThis study used a cross‐sectional approach to collect data from 332 pairs of lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and family caregivers from China. Participants completed the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. The actor–partner interdependence effects were used to analyze how illness perception and emotion regulation strategies affect posttraumatic growth in the patients themselves and their family caregivers.ResultsBoth illness perception and emotion regulation strategies had significant actor and partner effects on posttraumatic growth in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy and their family caregivers. Emotion regulation strategies were categorized as cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression, and patients had lower scores than caregivers for posttraumatic growth, illness perception, and expressive suppression, except for cognitive reappraisal scores, which were higher than caregivers. In patient–caregiver dyads, cognitive reappraisal was positively associated with posttraumatic growth in themselves and each other, whereas both illness perception and expressive suppression were negatively associated with posttraumatic growth.ConclusionReducing negative illness perceptions and expressive suppression may promote posttraumatic growth in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy and their family caregivers. Facilitating cognitive reappraisal may be useful in enhancing posttraumatic growth, which provides direction for future intervention research. Healthcare professionals should view lung cancer chemotherapy patients and their family caregivers as a whole and develop dyadic interventions.