Daily life participation in PTSD: pilot study on patterns and correlators

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Occupational Therapy
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Participation in meaningful daily activities is crucial for health and well-being.
• Individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often face challenges in daily functioning.
• Limited research exists on comprehensive participation patterns in PTSD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe objective and subjective participation dimensions in individuals with PTSD compared to healthy controls.
• To investigate the association between personal and environmental factors and participation in PTSD.

Main Methods:

• Sixty-one participants (31 with PTSD, 30 healthy controls) were enrolled.
• The PTSD group underwent assessments for symptom severity, cognition, executive function, sensory processing, self-efficacy, functional capacity, and environmental properties.
• Both groups completed a participation questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Individuals with PTSD exhibited lower intensity and diversity in participation, abandoning more occupations and finding less meaning.
• Objective participation dimensions correlated with self-reported executive function, sensory modulation, and environmental factors.
• No significant associations were found between objective participation and PTSD symptom severity, or objective cognitive and functional capacity measures.

Conclusions:

• Profound participation restrictions are evident in PTSD, warranting significant concern.
• Unique associations between participation, cognitive indices, sensory modulation, and environmental factors suggest the need for PTSD-specific interventions.
• Targeted interventions can enhance participation, thereby promoting health and well-being in individuals with PTSD.