Behavioral Self-Blame in PTSD—Etiology, Risk Factors, and Proposed Interventions

Aviad Raz, Ravit Rubinstein, Eran Shadach, Gal Chaikin, Ariel Ben Yehuda, Lucian Tatsa-Laur, Ron Kedem and Leah Shelef ()
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Aviad Raz: Department of Health and Well-Being, IDF’s Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Ramat Gan 6195001, Israel
Ravit Rubinstein: Department of Health and Well-Being, IDF’s Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Ramat Gan 6195001, Israel
Eran Shadach: School of Social Sciences, The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Tel Aviv Yaffo 6195001, Israel
Gal Chaikin: Department of Health and Well-Being, IDF’s Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Ramat Gan 6195001, Israel
Ariel Ben Yehuda: Department of Health and Well-Being, IDF’s Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Ramat Gan 6195001, Israel
Lucian Tatsa-Laur: Department of Health and Well-Being, IDF’s Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Ramat Gan 6195001, Israel
Ron Kedem: Department of Health and Well-Being, IDF’s Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Ramat Gan 6195001, Israel
Leah Shelef: Department of Military Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 15, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Feeling out of control during a traumatic event may evoke behavioral self-blame (BSB) to avoid feeling helpless following trauma by restoring one’s sense of control. BSB is a common, persistent, and treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress symptom. The present study investigates the etiology and risk factors of BSB following a traumatic event and the reasons for its persistence over time. Method: Subjects were a group of 546 Israeli ex-combat soldiers (M age = 24.93 ± 5.657) registered in an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) combat reaction clinic. All completed the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and the PTSD Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5). Item 10 of the PCL-5 served to measure BSB. The PDEQ and BSI measured distress and feeling out of control during the event. We used descriptive analyses of the data, t -test, and linear regression analysis to reveal the relationship between the research variables. Results: Feeling out of control during a traumatic event often increases BSB and post-traumatic stress symptoms. A significant correlation emerged between continuing distress characterizing individuals who experience a persistent lack of control and BSB. Female combat soldiers were at a higher risk of BSB than their male counterparts. Conclusion: Loss of control experienced during a traumatic event may result in persistent long-term feelings of lack of control over one’s behavior.

Keywords: PTSD; behavioral self-blame; feeling out of control; sense of control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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