title: Self-Compassion as a prospective predictor of PTSD symptom severity among trauma-exposed U.S. Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.
abstract: U.S. combat veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have elevated rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to the general population. Self-compassion, characterized by self-kindness, a sense of common humanity when faced with suffering, and mindful awareness of suffering, is a potentially modifiable factor implicated in the development and maintenance of PTSD. We examined the concurrent and prospective relationship between self-compassion and PTSD symptom severity after accounting for level of combat exposure and baseline PTSD severity in 115 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans exposed to 1 or more traumatic events during deployment. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV (CAPS-IV) at baseline and 12 months (n =101). Self-compassion and combat exposure were assessed at baseline via self-report. Self-compassion was associated with baseline PTSD symptoms after accounting for combat exposure (β = -.59; p < .001; ΔR(2) = .34; f(2) = .67; large effect) and predicted 12-month PTSD symptom severity after accounting for combat exposure and baseline PTSD severity (β = -.24; p = .008; ΔR(2) = .03; f(2) = .08; small effect). Findings suggest that interventions that increase self-compassion may be beneficial for treating chronic PTSD symptoms among some Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans.
authors: Department of Veterans Affairs VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans, Waco, Texas, USA; Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Waco, Texas, USA.
authors: Regina
authors: R
authors: Hiraoka
authors: Eric C
authors: EC
authors: Meyer
authors: Nathan A
authors: NA
authors: Kimbrel
authors: Bryann B
authors: BB
authors: DeBeer
authors: Suzy Bird
authors: SB
authors: Gulliver
authors: Sandra B
authors: SB
authors: Morissette
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D019455:Self Psychology; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare