Post-traumatic growth in schizophrenia and alcohol addiction

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this paper is to look at the relationship of post-traumatic growth with both type and intensity of trauma in two clinical groups: schizophrenia patients and alcohol-addicted individuals who have had various experiences of a traumatic nature. Material and methods: The subject matter is an analysis of how personal variables (personality traits, self-efficacy, character strengths) can influence the post-traumatic growth in the samples. The study verifies also what events were perceived by the patients as traumatic and life-changing, as well as what differences could be observed in the level of post-traumatic growth in the samples. The goal of the analysis is to find which group has recorded a higher level of post-traumatic growth overall and on specific subscales. Results: The obtained results show that the analysed groups differ in the levels of post-traumatic growth; the highest level was observed among the alcohol-addicted individuals in the scope of their changed perception of self. Post-traumatic growth can be linked, above all, to such personality traits as extraversion and prudence, but only in the group of alcohol-addicted individuals. The largest number of links was found between post-traumatic growth and character strengths, and in this case the quality and quantity of these links were attributed mostly to the group of addicted persons. Conclusions: Further research and advancement of the knowledge would be necessary in order to make post-traumatic growth in mentally-ill persons a milestone of their recovery; moreover, further studies would be helpful for the adaptation of psychological interventions aimed at achieving post-traumatic growth. Keywords: schizophrenia, alcohol addiction, post-traumatic growth