Abstract
Traumatic experiences are associated with emotions such as anxiety, shame, guilt, disgust, and anger. For patients who have experienced child sexual abuse, these emotions might be triggered by perceptions of their own body. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of the association of the body to traumatic experiences and to discern the emotions linked to trauma-associated body areas. Ninety-seven female participants were assigned to four groups: post-traumatic stress disorder following child sexual abuse with co-occurring borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder following child sexual abuse without co-occurring borderline personality disorder, borderline personality disorder without post-traumatic stress disorder, and healthy controls. Participants rated 26 body areas regarding their association with trauma and 7 emotions. Emotions were assessed by questionnaires. Results suggest that specific areas of the body are associated with trauma and linked to highly aversive emotions. In post-traumatic stress disorder patients, the areas associated with highly negative emotions were the pubic region and inner thighs. Thus, the patient's body may act as a trigger for traumatic memories.
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Citations
Oct 25, 2016·The Journal of Sexual Medicine·Chelsea D Kilimnik, Cindy M Meston
Nov 4, 2016·Journal of Clinical Medicine·Tanya Saraiya, Teresa Lopez-Castro
Sep 27, 2018·Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy·Aoife ClarkeFilippo Varese
Jun 4, 2019·Health & Social Care in the Community·Maureen MacGinleyJane Mowll
Jan 16, 2018·Trauma, Violence & Abuse·Caroline Bradbury-JonesEija Paavilainen
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Jan 9, 2021·Journal of Child Sexual Abuse·Rachel Lev-WieselSusan Weinger
Sep 3, 2020·Journal of Affective Disorders·Marcin SekowskiCarla Sharp