Introduction:
The nature of PTSD as a clinical construct is extremely complex, possessing many subtleties and idiosyncratic intricacies that distinguish it from other psychiatric disorders. The REBT theory has been supported in the context of many different psychological/psychiatric disorders. However, one notable exception is the lack of data regarding the predictions of REBT theory in the context of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (see David, Lynn, & Ellis, 2010). REBT theory appears very well suited to studying posttraumatic stress responses as the theory suggests that such responses should not arise simply as a result of experiencing a traumatic life event, as is suggested in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder V (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013), but rather that posttraumatic stress disorder will arise as a consequence of evaluating traumatic life events in a dysfunctional manner (Ellis, 2001).
Research objective: This research clinical study is aimed at exploring the nature and structure of PTSD from the REBT, Rationale Emotive Behavior Perspective, as a new, contemporary psychotherapy in the North Macedonia.
Sample and psychological instruments: The research will be conducted in two stages. In the first stage (pilot study) the reliability of psychological instruments on a sample from North Macedonia will be established (Cronbach's alpha coefficient) on a sample from Stip and Skopje, aged 19-65. In the second stage, a clinical sample of respondents who met the criteria for PTSD was provided (by DSM-V classification, PTSD) in Clinical Hospital in Štip and University Clinic of Psychiatry in Skopje. In order to asses main variables (posttraumatic symptomatology [level], irrational beliefs, rational beliefs, trauma-specific irrational beliefs) will use set of psychological instruments subsequently, in relation to the aforementioned variables: The sheet of paper with personal data; PTSD Diagnostic Scale for DSM-V (PDS-5, Foa et al., 2015); The Attitudes and Belief Scale 2,(ABS-2: DiGiuseppe, Leaf, Exner, & Robin, 1988); The Trauma Related Irrational Belief Scale, Hyland, 2014.
Expected results: It is expected that the new psychological instruments will show good psychometric characteristic. A model consistent with the predictions of REBT theory will found to be a good fit of the data and explained a large percentage of variance in each symptom class of posttraumatic stress. Applying structural equation modelling, we expected that generalised irrational beliefs could impact upon posttraumatic stress symptoms via trauma specific irrational beliefs. It is expected that with applying sequential moderator multiple regression analysis we will found that rational beliefs could positively moderate the impact of irrational beliefs of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Rational beliefs will found to exert a negative, direct effect on posttraumatic stress symptoms, and to lessen the impact of irrational beliefs on posttraumatic stress responses.
Key words: : Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy , REBT; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD; irational belifes, rational belifes; trauma specific irational beliefs.
Principal researcher :
Prof. dr Lence Miloseva, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Goce Delcev University, Stip
Research Participants :
Prof. dr Tatjana Vukosavljevic Gvozden, University of Belgrade, Belgrade
Prof. dr Kneginja Richter, Private University Paracelsus, University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg, Germany
Doc. dr Stojan Bajraktarov, Medical faculty, Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje and University Clinic for Psychiatry, Skopje
ass. dr Arsova Roza, Clinical hospital, Dept. of Psychiatry, and Faculty of Medical Sciences, Goce Delcev University, Stip
Young researchers:
Dijana Miloseva, Medical faculty, Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Skopje
m-r Iskra Trencevska Ivanovska, University Clinic for Psychiatry, Skopje and Faculty of Medical Sciences, Goce Delcev University, Stip