The contribution of shame to post-psychotic trauma.
OBJECTIVE
The current study examined shame in a clinical sample recovering from a first episode of psychosis by focusing on the contribution of different types of shame to post-psychotic trauma while controlling for current affective symptoms.


METHODS
The study used a cross-sectional correlational design.


METHODS
Fifty individuals who met the criteria for a psychotic disorder whose acute psychotic symptoms were in remission completed measures of internal and external shame associated with psychosis, general shame, post-psychotic trauma, and depression.


RESULTS
Post-psychotic trauma symptoms were correlated with internal and external shame associated with psychosis and general shame. However, the relation between post-psychotic trauma and external shame associated with psychosis remained after controlling for general shame and current affective symptoms. In addition, internal shame had a stronger association with depression. Thus, internal and external shame due to psychosis had different associations with different types of post-psychotic emotional dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
The results support the importance of assessing shame as a multi-faceted construct and suggest that assessing shame directly associated with mental illness is a worthwhile endeavour.
Birmingham Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, UK.
Michelle H
MH
Turner
Mark
M
Bernard
Max
M
Birchwood
Chris
C
Jackson
Chris
C
Jones
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012929:Psychological Distance; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012752:Shame; D012928:Social Desirability; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology; D006113:United Kingdom