[Path to growth or open wound? The quest for meaning and coping with trauma in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder]. / Wachstum oder Wunde? Sinnfindung und Traumabewaltigung bei Patienten mit posttraumatischer Belastungsstorung.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the relationship between meaning in life and coping with trauma, and correlations between posttraumatic growth and mental health. METHODS: The content and structure of the personal meaning systems of 62 patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed qualitatively. In addition, the participants completed questionnaires measuring meaning in life (LRI-r-d; MLQ), PTSD symptoms (IES-R), depression (BDI-II), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D), satisfaction with life (SWLS) and posttraumatic growth (PPR-r). RESULTS: A stronger sense of meaning in life and a more elaborately structured personal meaning system correlated with a better mental health and more posttraumatic growth. Posttraumatic growth was also associated with mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with coherent personal meaning systems are more successful in coping with traumatic life events. They also reported more posttraumatic growth.

[Meaning in life and mental health: personal meaning systems of psychotherapists and psychotherapy patients]. / Individuelle Sinnkonstruktionen und seelische Gesundheit: Ein Vergleich von Psychotherapeuten und Psychotherapiepatienten.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated differences in the personal meaning systems of psychotherapists and psychotherapy patients as well as correlations between meaning in life and mental health. METHODS: We qualitatively assessed the content and structure of the personal meaning systems of 41 psychotherapists and 77 psychotherapy patients. In addition, the participants completed questionnaires measuring meaning in life (LRI-r-d), sense of coherence (SOC-9L), self-esteem (RSES), satisfaction with life (SWLS), self-efficacy (SWK), and depression (BDI). RESULTS: The personal meaning systems of psychotherapists were more complex and coherent compared to psychotherapy patients. In the group of psychotherapy patients, a more elaborate structure of the personal meaning system correlated with the subjective sense of meaning. We were able to confirm correlations between meaning in life and mental health for most of the instances. CONCLUSIONS: Psychotherapists had more elaborate and coherent meaning systems than psychotherapy patients. Especially for psychotherapy patients elaborate and coherent meaning systems turned out to be important for mental health.