Lived experiences and intervention considerations for co-occurring psychological trauma and physical health conditions. “It’s been a cut that’s been infected, and it's never healed.”: Living with co-morbid chronic pain and conflict-related psychological trauma. An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to explore the lived experience of individuals with chronic pain and probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), who had experienced at least one non-injurious traumatic event in relation to The Troubles/conflict in Northern Ireland. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyze interview data from eleven participants. Themes explored how participants grappled with life purpose, existential freedom, disrupted meaning making and existential isolation. Extended Literature Review: This scoping review examined research into physical health consideration in intervention design or the evaluation of outcomes of Cognitive Processing Therapy for individuals with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. A systematic search of six databases identified 47 peer-reviewed papers. Data extracted covered study design, population metrics, CPT implementation and health assessment.