The experiences of help seeking for people with post traumatic stress disorder from domestic violence : interpretative phenomenological analysis

This research aimed to identify the help seeking process of people with Post traumatic stress disorder from Domestic violence through exploring their experiences of attempting to gain access to an appropriate service and get treatment for PTSD. Interviews with 8 participants, 7 female and 1 male, were conducted and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The analysis identified three superordinate themes and further subthemes within them. A map of the themes was developed to show the process of help seeking. The beginning of their journey towards accessing the service is captured in the first superordinate theme; Past influencing present with subthemes including attitudes of others. The second superordinate theme explains communication and power in approaching help. A final crucial stage in reaching help is captured in the final superordinate theme recognition of PTSD. This theme describes a lack of awareness of the symptoms of PTSD within professionals and through wider society which prevents access to appropriate treatment for PTSD. The clinical implication is that this may extend the help seeking process for people with PTSD from domestic violence often by many years.