Mubashara Kiran, Mowadat H Rana, Muhammad Azhar.
Posttraumatic growth amongst survivors of a suicide bombing attack in Northern Pakistan.
J Pak Psych Soc Jan ;7(1):29-33.

Objective: This study examined the relationship of demographic characteristics, and post traumatic disorder, with posttraumatic growth among individuals exposed to a suicide bombing attack. Design: Cross Sectional Study. Place and Duration of study: The collection of data was undertaken at the auditorium of POF Wah and the study was conducted from February to May 2009. Subjects and Methods: Fifty two workers of an ordnance factory in the town of Wah in Northern Pakistan who survived the suicide attack were studied. Standardized measures of post traumatic growth and post traumatic disorder on Post Traumatic Growth Inventory PTGI and Impact of Event Scale IES-R respectively were used. Results: The presence of post traumatic growth trends in all the survivors with 57% (n=30) having high PTG scores. 79 % (n=41) scored more than the cut off score of 22 on IES-R. No significant relationship between Posttraumatic Growth scores and severity of Post Traumatic Stress symptoms was however noted. A significant positive correlation between three subscales of PTGI, and hyperarousal (a crucial symptom of PTSD) measured on IES-R was established. There also existed a significant but negative relationship between sub-scale of intrusion (IES-R) and personal strength (PTGI) and a positive significant relationship between subscales appreciation of life (PTGI) and avoidance (IES-R). Conclusion: High PTG scores are seen in more than half of the survivors of a suicide bombing attack and PTSD and PTG can coexist in survivors of terrorist activities.

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