Mastering life together - symptom management, views, and experiences of relatives of persons with CPTSD: a grounded theory study

Abstract

BackgroundComplex posttraumatic stress disorder is described as a chronic condition with several severe and concurrent symptoms. Symptoms influence and impair not only the affected individuals but also their social surroundings and their relatives. The literature describes relatives as a key factor in managing symptoms, both as a barrier and a facilitator.AimThis research aimed to explore and to reconstruct the views, perceptions, experiences, facilitations and barriers of relatives who support the symptom management of persons with CPTSD in everyday life.MethodsA theoretical sampling was used to recruit for an interview 18- to 65-year-old relatives of patients with diagnosed CPTSD. The 17 semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcriptions were uploaded into MAXQDA, and a Grounded Theory method based on that of Corbin and Strauss was used to analyse the data.ResultsWe provide a process model with 5 interacting phases: the initial situation, state of permanence, being an anchor, recognizing limits, and potential outcomes. Each phase is further divided into subcategories.DiscussionParticipants experienced their condition as unpredictable. Although they mastered different strategies through own exploration and in cooperation, there is a clear need for more education, advice and support for relatives caring for those affected by CPTSD. Health care services should consider providing family support, educational services and increase the involvement of relatives in treatment. Over all, well-supported relatives can play a facilitative, key role in improving symptom management.Trial registrationEthical approval was obtained from the Swiss Cantonal Ethic Commission (Nr 201,500,096). This research was also registered at the World Health Organization Clinical Trials Search Portal through the German Clinical Trial Register, Trial DRKS00012268.

Perceptions of traditional Chinese medicine doctors about using wearable devices and traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic instruments: A mixed-methodology study

“…The data analysis was performed in five steps: Step 1: Editing: researchers read the interview data verbatim and fully understand the interview content; Step 2: Open coding: researchers coded the data line-by-line and conceptually grouped the content; Step 3: Intermediate coping: researchers focused on the grouping concept, reclassifying and defining them; Step 4: Axial coding: researchers used axis coding to develop categories and concepts and classify them into higher-level headlines; Step 5: Formation theory: researchers integrated the final theme choice into the final grounded theory. 31 Survey data analysis. Descriptive analysis was used to describe the characteristics of the TCM doctors.…”

Auf dem Weg zu kulturellen Skripten von Traumafolgen

“…Chentsova-Dutton und Maercker [4] hatten angeregt, dass es für das Gebiet der Traumafolgen ebenfalls wie in anderen psychologischen Gebieten Untersuchungen von zeitlichen oder kausalen Zusammenhängen komplexer Phänomenabfolgen geben sollte. Für das noch neue Störungsbild der komplexen PTBS hatten Stadtmann und Kollegen [33][34][35] bereits an einer Patientenstichprobe solche zeitlichen Abfolgen untersucht. Die Patientinnen nannten vier subjektive Hauptphasen der Störungsentwicklung: nach der traumatischen Erfahrung zunächst emotionale Ignoranz (Symptome wurden ignoriert), dann Überkompensation (Belastung wurde vernachlässigt), dies war gefolgt von Überwältigung/Zusammenbrüchen (mit massivem Beeinträchtigungsgefühl) [34].…”