An Umbrella Review and Research Update of the Relationship between Shame and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder/Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (cPTSD) are debilitating psychiatric conditions associated with disability and morbidity; historically, PTSD has been conceptualized as a fear-based anxiety disorder. More recently, it has been found that other negative emotions are also primary in PTSD/cPTSD. Shame is a diagnostic component of cPTSD and is known to be positively associated with PTSD. Thus, PTSD with shame and cPTSD are reviewed together in this article. Two reviews were conducted an umbrella review of previous reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses of the relationship between PTSD/cPTSD and shame as well as a research update. The umbrella review was comprised four reviews and the research update 10 articles published after the last review, Shi et al. The findings indicate a strong relationship between PTSD/cPTSD and shame. Further trauma-related shame has a role in the development of PTSD/cPTSD and trait-based shame has a role in the maintenance of PTSD/cPTSD. The findings and limitations of this review are discussed.

Keywords

• complex post-traumatic stress disorder
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• shame