[Path to growth or open wound? The quest for meaning and coping with trauma in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder].

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between meaning in life and coping with trauma, and correlations between posttraumatic growth and mental health.
Methods: The content and structure of the personal meaning systems of 62 patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed qualitatively. In addition, the participants completed questionnaires measuring meaning in life (LRI-r-d; MLQ), PTSD symptoms (IES-R), depression (BDI-II), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D), satisfaction with life (SWLS) and posttraumatic growth (PPR-r).
Results: A stronger sense of meaning in life and a more elaborately structured personal meaning system correlated with a better mental health and more posttraumatic growth. Posttraumatic growth was also associated with mental health.
Conclusions: Patients with coherent personal meaning systems are more successful in coping with traumatic life events. They also reported more posttraumatic growth.