The role of guilt in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Background: A growing body of evidence supports the notion that the emotional profile of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may be more diverse than traditional accounts presume. PTSD’s image as an anxiety-based disorder is undergoing change as the significance of other emotions in its development becomes more evident. Experimental research is needed in order to expand the understanding of underlying processes driving the development of PTSD. Objective: Experimentally test the influence of stressor-related guilt on the occurrence of PTSD symptomatology. Method: A non-clinical student sample faced an analogue trauma, a stressor in the form of a computer crash and related loss of data. We either personally blamed participants for causing the incident (blame group) or told them that it was a technical failure and therefore not their fault (no-blame group). Levels of guilt before and after the incident as well as number and associated distress of incident-related intrusions were assessed using a one-day diary and compared between groups. Results: The guilt manipulation was successful: feelings of guilt significantly increased in the blame group but not in the no-blame group. Furthermore, the blame group showed a significantly higher number of intrusions and associated distress compared to the no-blame group at one-day follow-up. Conclusions: These laboratory findings indicate that feelings of guilt may lead to increased PTSD symptomatology, supporting the view that guilt experienced in reaction to a traumatic event may be part of a causal mechanism driving the development of PTSD.

Rumination mediates the relationships of fear and guilt to posttraumatic stress disorder and posttraumatic growth among adolescents after the Ya’an earthquake

“…Although fear and guilt may both predict PTSD and PTG, the predictive mechanisms remain unclear. According to Lee et al's (2001) theory of PTSD generation mechanisms and to previous research, we propose that rumination may mediate the effects of fear and guilt on PTSD and PTG (Bub & Lommen, 2017;Dekel et al 2016;. Rumination is a cognitive process consisting of repeated attempts to analyse one's problems and feelings of distress, but with no accompanying action to make positive changes (McEvoy, Watson, Watkins, & Nathan, 2013).…”

“…A meta-analysis (Pugh, Taylor, & Berry, 2015) of the relationship between guilt and PTSD found that they are strongly related, and that guilt may predict the occurrence of PTSD. Experimental studies have also confirmed that the arousal of guilt can predict symptoms of PTSD (Bub & Lommen, 2017). On the other hand, as a selfconscious emotion, guilt can facilitate psychological adaptation (Tangney & Tracy, 2012), which promotes the adoption of positive coping strategies and the emergence of more altruistic behaviour.…”

Intrusive memories of trauma: A target for research bridging cognitive science and its clinical application

“…In a follow-up study, post-film anxiety levels again predicted intrusions ( Laposa & Rector, 2012 ). Feelings of guilt (experimentally manipulated using a staged computer crash and related loss of data) also predicted the number of intrusive memories of the event and intrusion-related distress ( Bub & Lommen, 2017 ).…”

A Study to Assess the Effect of Stress on Mental Balance/ Judgement, Psychological Health and Adjustment Level

“…Studies report that guilt experienced in response to traumatic/ stressful event may lead to development of stress disorder. 31 Limitations of the study The present study was performed with small sample size for assessing the effect of stress on judgment, psychological health and adjustment level. The results of the study maybe specific to the type of subject chosen and individual variation in genetic make up to handle stressful situations.…”