Contributing factors to secondary traumatic stress and vicarious posttraumatic growth in therapists.

Alongside the recognized potential negative repercussions of working as a psychological therapist, there is growing interest in the potential positive impacts of engaging in such work. The current study used a cross-sectional online survey design to explore the impact of a range of demographic, work-related, and compassion-related factors on levels of secondary traumatic stress (STS) and vicarious posttraumatic growth (VPTG) in an international sample of 359 psychological therapists. Hierarchical multiple regressions demonstrated that burnout, lower levels of self-compassion, having a personal trauma history, reporting a higher percentage of working time with a trauma focus, and being female were the statistically significant contributors to STS scores, explaining 40.8% of the variance, F(9, 304) = 23.2, p <.001. For VPTG, higher compassion satisfaction, higher self-compassion, higher STS, a higher percentage of working time with a trauma focus, fewer years qualified, being male, and having a personal trauma history were all statistically significant contributors, explaining 27.3% of the variance, F (10, 304) = 11.37, p <.001. The findings illustrate the potential risk and protective factors for developing STS and clarify factors that may increase the likelihood of experiencing VPTG. Implications for psychological therapists and the organizations and institutions for which they work are considered along with potential directions for future research in the discussion.

At the 'heart' of the matter: an exploration of the psychological impact of living with congenital heart disease in adulthood.

The psychological impact of living with congenital heart disease in adulthood was explored using semi-structured interviews with seven adults. Participants described living with congenital heart disease as a constant and limiting presence, which impacts upon the relationship with self and others. Psychological and emotional reactions ranged from depression, shame, trauma, lack of control and an ongoing struggle with issues of uncertainty and life expectancy. Various coping strategies were identified such as denial and overcompensation. Participants reported that they were not psychologically supported by health professionals. Implications of findings are discussed with regard to service provision.

An exploration of the relationship between social support and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: Depressive symptoms in schizophrenia have previously been associated with a perceived lack of social support. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between perceived social support and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia; to assess the psychological wellbeing of their carers; and to examine the quality of the relationship between the patients and their carers. METHOD: Individuals with schizophrenia (n = 17) were assessed on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), a measure of perceived social support, the Significant Others Scale (SOS) and the Quality of Relationship Inventory (QRI). RESULTS: The mean score on the BDI for patients fell within the moderate-severe range and the mean range on the BHS fell within the moderate range. Family and friends were perceived as supportive resources by patients. There was no significant relationship between patient depressive symptoms or hopelessness and perceived social support. Carers of patients did not report high rates of depressive symptoms or hopelessness. CONCLUSIONS: These findings do not support the previous finding of an association between depressive symptoms and a perceived lack of social support in schizophrenia.

Correlates of self-harm behaviour in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared acutely ill patients with schizophrenia with a history of self-harm (N=17) to those without a history of self-harm (N=16) on measures of depression, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and demographic and psychiatric variables. A subgroup of these patients who experience auditory hallucinations, with and without a history of self-harm, were selected and compared on measures of depression, hopelessness, suicidal ideation and beliefs about voices. DESIGN: Employing a cross-sectional design, in-patients of two local psychiatric hospital, who met DSM-IV-TR criteria for schizophrenia and who were in an acute phase of the illness, were selected. METHOD: Each patient was assessed using the Beck Depressions Inventory (BDI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and the Beck Suicide Scale (BSS). Patients who experienced auditory verbal hallucinations completed the Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire Revised (BAVQ-R). Patients with a history of self-harm completed the Beck Suicide Intent Scale (BSI). RESULTS: Patients with a history of self-harm (N=17) had significantly greater symptoms of depression, greater suicidal thoughts, increased number of hospital admissions, greater duration of illness and were more likely to be married, compared to patients without a history of self-harm (N=16). Among the subgroup of patients who experience auditory hallucinations, those with a history of self-harm (N=9), believed their voice to be more malevolent, had a tendency to resist their voice and experienced significantly greater symptoms of depression and hopelessness compared to those without a history of self-harm (N=6). CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance for screening by clinicians during inpatient hospital stays and for monitoring to be ongoing following discharge. For the subgroup of patients who experience auditory hallucinations, future research should seek to explore the relationship between self-harm and beliefs about voices.