Complex trauma in relation to mental health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Psychiatric service users’ interpretation of their trauma experiences in relation to their mental health issues: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.
IRAS ID
203295
Contact name
Jonathan Grace
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
How do psychiatric service users interpret their experience of trauma in relation to their mental health issues?
Summary of the study
This research is concerned with the complex trauma model of psychosis/mental health. Initially this model was a controversial alternative to the bio-medical model of mental illness. Since its inception, a large body of empirical research has been produced that supports the model; this has been generated in the disciplines of paediatric neuropsychology; interpersonal neurobiology; affective neuroscience; psychodynamics; attachment theory, traumatology, and brain imaging.
This research is important because despite the growth in the evidence base, the complex trauma model is not widely recognised outside specialist psychological/psychotherapeutic interests. How mental health is conceptualised has a direct impact on how appropriate interventions are determined. The complex trauma model emphasises the psycho-social elements of the biopsychosocial model, and can inform the development of clinical interventions that address those factors that may be perpetuating severe psychological distress in inpatient settings. The rationale for including individuals who have spent time on a psychiatric unit, is in order to explore how their clinical care may have impacted on their interpretation of their experiences of mental health issues.REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0362
Date of REC Opinion
14 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion