PREVENTING PTSD: THE VALUE OF INNER RESOURCEFULNESS AND A SENSE OF PERSONAL CONTROL OF A SITUATION. IS IT A MATTER OF PROBLEM-SOLVING OR ANXIETY MANAGEMENT?

Abstract

The accounts of five subjects who survived life threatening experiences without the development of PTSD were examined, focusing on the coping strategies and cognitions described in these situations. The study aimed to determine whether there was a common pattern of response amongst subjects in these situations similar to the cognitive patterns described by the senior author of the previous case study (Ness & Macaskill, 2000) who survived a near drowning experience without the development of PTSD. In the search for common coping strategies all five respondents in the study completed the Locus of Control Scale (Rotter, 1966) and the Self-Control Schedule (Fisher & Reason, 1988). All five respondents demonstrated the use of problem solving as their main cognitive strategy, utilizing specific information from their previous experience relevant to their life-threatening situation. Respondents did not appear to rely on coping strategies aimed at the management of acute anxiety symptomatology. There was no common pattern among respondents in profiles on the Self-Control Schedule or the Locus of Control Scale. The possible implications of this case series study are discussed in relation to opportunities for the prevention of PTSD, the use of debriefing and the treatment of post-traumatic stress.