The effect of traumatic experiences on self-esteem

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between trauma and self-esteem and the effect of self-esteem to the psychiatric symptom. Patients and methods: The study included 100 patients with depression, OKB, PTSD, anksiyete disorders, somatoform disorders, (patients with psiychotic disorders didn't include) and 100 volunteers (comparison group) without a psychiatric disorders and these patient and control group were compared. Socio-demographic characters of the patients and controls were recorded. İn the two groups persons' trauma severity was measured with the visual analogue scale which is scored on a 10 point ranging from 1 to 10. Traumatic experiences checklist (TEC), rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSE), symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90R), post-traumatic cognitif scale (PTCI) were applied to all participants. Results: We have found that the patients' visual analog scale (VAS) scores was hight than the controls. ln the patient group compared to the control group self esteem, continuity of self-concept, relation with family, participate in discussion, low relation with the father were found low and sensitivity to criticism, depressive mood, dreaming, to fear with interpersonal relationship, somatic semptoms, psychic isolation were found high on the Rosenberg Self Esteem (RSE) scale. In the patient group traumatic experiences checklist (TEC) and post-traumatic cognitions inventory (PTCI) scores were higer than the control group. In the symptom Checklist-90 Revised(SCL-90R) the number of the symptoms was higher in the patient group than control group. Discussion: As a result, we have found the higher trauma scores in the patient group than the control group. These higher trauma scores which has been found showed correlation with the low self-esteem scores and the higher psychiatric symptom. Keywords: Trauma, self-esteem, psychiatric symptoms