Karagiorgou Olga, Evans Jonathan J, Cullen Breda
a Mental Health and Wellbeing , Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow , Glasgow , UK.
b School of Psychology , University of Glasgow , Glasgow , UK.
Disabil Rehabil. 2018 Mar;40(6):655-659. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2016.1274337. Epub 2017 Jan 9.
Post-traumatic growth (PTG) can occur following acquired brain injury (ABI). It has been proposed that people experiencing psychological distress following ABI may benefit from a positive psychotherapy intervention (PPT) aimed at increasing well-being; PPT may also influence PTG. We aimed to investigate PTG experiences in participants of a positive psychotherapy pilot trial.
ABI survivors who had received PPT or treatment as usual (TAU) were interviewed individually after the end of the trial. Thematic analysis was conducted, to code transcripts for known themes from PTG literature as well as newly emerging themes.
Four participants (age = 46-62; n = 3 male; months since injury = 11-20) from the PPT group and three (age = 58-74; n = 2 male; months since injury = 9-22) from the TAU group were interviewed. Six themes were shared across both groups: personal strength, appreciation of life, relating to others, optimism/positive attitude, feeling fortunate compared to others, and positive emotional/behavioral changes. Two themes were expressed by PPT participants only: lifestyle improvements and new possibilities. One TAU participant reported spiritual change.
A greater understanding of the development of PTG following ABI may help rehabilitation clinicians to promote better adjustment by focusing on clients' potential for positive change and enhancing their capacity for growth. Implications for Rehabilitation Post-traumatic growth is "positive psychological change experienced as the result of the struggle with highly challenging life circumstances." This is the first qualitative investigation of post-traumatic growth in participants in a positive psychotherapy trial following acquired brain injury. Several post-traumatic growth themes were shared by participants from the positive psychotherapy and treatment as usual study arms, with additional themes evident only in positive psychotherapy participants. A greater understanding of post-traumatic growth among rehabilitation professionals may help to promote adjustment following brain injury.
创伤后成长（PTG）可能发生在获得性脑损伤（ABI）之后。有人提出，ABI后经历心理困扰的人可能会从旨在提高幸福感的积极心理治疗干预（PPT）中受益；PPT也可能影响PTG。我们旨在调查一项积极心理治疗试点试验参与者的PTG经历。
在试验结束后，对接受PPT或常规治疗（TAU）的ABI幸存者进行了单独访谈。进行了主题分析，以便对转录本进行编码，确定PTG文献中的已知主题以及新出现的主题。
对PPT组的4名参与者（年龄46 - 62岁；男性3名；受伤后月数11 - 20个月）和TAU组的3名参与者（年龄58 - 74岁；男性2名；受伤后月数9 - 22个月）进行了访谈。两组共有的六个主题是：个人力量、对生活的感激、与他人的关系、乐观/积极态度、与他人相比感到幸运以及积极的情绪/行为变化。仅PPT参与者表达出的两个主题是：生活方式改善和新的可能性。一名TAU参与者报告了精神变化。
更深入地了解ABI后PTG的发展，可能有助于康复临床医生通过关注客户积极改变的潜力并增强其成长能力来促进更好的适应。对康复的启示创伤后成长是“因与极具挑战性的生活境遇作斗争而经历的积极心理变化”。这是对获得性脑损伤后积极心理治疗试验参与者创伤后成长的首次定性研究。积极心理治疗组和常规治疗组的参与者共有的几个创伤后成长主题，另外一些主题仅在积极心理治疗参与者中明显。康复专业人员对创伤后成长有更深入的了解，可能有助于促进脑损伤后的适应。
