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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms in Adults with Psychiatric Disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Muhammad Tahir Khalily ,
Anna Paulina Wota  and
Brian Hallahan
Muhammad Tahir Khalily*
Affiliation:
Psychology Department Roscommon Mental Health Services and Clinical Supervisor for D.Psych.Sc School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland
Anna Paulina Wota
Affiliation:
Programme Department of Psychology, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
Brian Hallahan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Roscommon County Hospital, Roscommon and Honorary Research Fellow, Clinical Science Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland
*
*Correspondence Email [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective: This study explores unrecognised symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in individuals with a range of psychiatric disorders in the absence of traumatic events. We also examine the association between PTSD symptoms, social interaction with peers and therapeutic alliance with mental health professionals.

Method: A purposive sample of 120 adults consecutively referred to the psychology department from September 2008 to September 2010 was included in this study. We used the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2) to ascertain the presence of PTSD symptoms, social interaction levels and treatment alliance with health professionals.

Results: Individuals previously undiagnosed with PTSD, referred without any noted traumatic event had high levels of symptoms related to PTSD, as measured by the PK scale of the MMPI-2. The PK scale was significantly correlated with several MMPI-2 clinical scales, the Social Introversion Scale (Si) and the Treatment Alliance Scale (TRT) (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated the presence of symptoms related to PTSD in individuals with a range of psychiatric disorders despite the absence of reported trauma. The presence of symptoms related to PTSD may be associated with an indirect negative impact on social contacts and a poorer therapeutic alliance with mental health professionals. Investigating symptoms of PTSD during a psychological assessment even when trauma is not the presenting complaint is merited in most cases.

Keywords

PTSDMMPIPKassessmentabsence of traumatic event
Type
Original Paper
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , 2012 , pp. 102 - 106
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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