title: Anger, aggression, and self-harm in PTSD and complex PTSD.
abstract: This study examined the contribution of complex posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis and symptomatology to the difficulties of anger, aggression, and self-harm in a Northern Ireland clinical community sample. A "current complex PTSD" (CCPTSD) group (n=11) was compared with a "current PTSD" group (n=31) on self-report measures of these variables. The CCPTSD group demonstrated significantly higher levels of physical aggression and self-harm than the PTSD group. The complex PTSD symptom of 'alterations in self-perception' was a significant predictor of aggression and history of self-harm, suggesting the potential role of posttraumatic shame and self-loathing in PTSD theoretical models of these destructive behaviors. Social desirability was a notable confounding influence in the assessment of anger, aggression, and self-harm in traumatised individuals.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology Department, The Belfast HSC Trust, Belfast, BT9 7AB, Northern Ireland. kevin.dyer@belfasttrust.hscni.net
authors.forename: Kevin F W
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Dyer
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dorahy
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corry
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: MacSherry
authors.forename: Geordie
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McRobert
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.forename: Bridie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McElhill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000786:Anger; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012928:Social Desirability; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult