Posttraumatic Growth and Resilience: Assessment and Clinical Implications

Sang Won Jeon; Changsu Han; Joonho Choi; Chi-Un Pae; Jeong-Ho Chae; Young Hoon Ko; Ho-Kyoung Yoon; Changwoo Han

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.1.32

Journal List > J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc > v.54(1) > 1017747

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Jeon, Han, Choi, Pae, Chae, Ko, Yoon, and Han: Posttraumatic Growth and Resilience: Assessment and Clinical Implications

Review Article

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2015; 54(1): 32-39.

Published online: 28 February 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.1.32

Posttraumatic Growth and Resilience: Assessment and Clinical Implications

Sang Won Jeon, MD^1,², Changsu Han, MD, PhD¹, Joonho Choi, MD, PhD³, Chi-Un Pae, MD, PhD⁴, Jeong-Ho Chae, MD, PhD⁴, Young Hoon Ko, MD, PhD^1,⁵, Ho-Kyoung Yoon, MD, PhD^1,², Changwoo Han, MD, PhD²

¹Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea.

²National Ansan Trauma Center, Ansan, Korea.

³Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.

⁴Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

⁵Ansan City Mental Health Center, Ansan, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Changsu Han, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Ansan Hospital, 123 Jeokgeum-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan 425-707, Korea. Tel +82-31-412-4931, Fax +82-31-412-5144, hancs@korea.ac.kr

Received 7 January 2015 Revised 23 January 2015 Accepted 24 January 2015

Abstract

Stress and trauma research has traditionally focused on the negative sequela of adversity. Recently, research has begun to focus on positive outcomes, specifically posttraumatic growth (PTG)-"positive change experienced as a result of the struggle with trauma"-which emphasizes the transformative potential of one's experiences with highly stressful events and circumstances. For evaluation of PTG, resilience is very important. Resilience refers to a person's ability to successfully adapt to acute stress, trauma or more chronic forms of adversity, maintaining psychological well-being. This article introduces several measurement scales for assessment of PTG and resilience. In addition, we suggest psychological techniques for facilitating PTG focusing on the relationship with adaptation after trauma. Finally, we discuss the applicability of a therapeutic approach for PTG in clinical practice. The systemic review of this article will provide further directions for PTG and resilience.

Keywords: Posttraumatic growth, Resilience, Assessment, Scale, Psychology, Adaptation, Clinical, Treatment

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Possible outcomes of adversity. PTG: Posttraumatic growth, PTSD: Posttraumatic stress disorder.

Fig. 2

Distribution of the results after traumatic event. PTG: Posttraumatic growth, PTSD: Posttraumatic stress disorder.

Table 1

Summary of the assessment of the posttraumatic growth measures

n: Total count, T: Total question, P: Positive question, N: Negative question

Table 2

Summary of the assessment of the resilience measures

n: Total count, T: Total question, P: Positive question, N: Negative question

Notes

The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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