A quantitative investigation of complex post-traumatic stress disorder among military veterans in Northern Ireland

Abstract

The study of traumatic stress is of great importance within the military veteran population given the unique risk to this group of exposure to stressful events. Understanding is historically drawn from the examination of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among this group, however recent developments have presented a diverse range of potential post-traumatic syndromes that may likewise apply. One such construct is that of Complex PTSD (C-PTSD); which describes a range of difficulties beyond that traditionally recognised and typically arising from repeated or cumulative stressful experiences. This diagnosis has gained significant interest and is recently included in the 11th Edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).

This thesis examines the application of C-PTSD in understanding psychological morbidity within a sample of military veterans living in Northern Ireland (NI). Using quantitative methods, the empirical work herein examines the latent structure of C-PTSD, predictors of C-PTSD symptomology, and associations with other psychopathological conditions. The results of this thesis highlight the potential relevance of ICD-11 C-PTSD in the military veteran population in NI. Implications for understanding of C-PTSD and for veteran mental health are discussed.

Date of Award	Jul 2020
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast
Sponsors	Forces in Mind Trust
Supervisor	Cherie Armour (Supervisor) & Martin Dempster (Supervisor)