Posttraumatic Stress and Depressive Symptomatology in a Sample of Battered Women from South Africa

Abstract

This study investigated the incidence of depression, posttraumatic stress symptomatology, anger, and guilt in a sample of 40 battered women in a shelter. Analysis indicated that 63% of the 40 scored moderate to severe on depression, 59% manifested high posttraumatic stress symptoms, while 38.4% and 54.5% reported problems with anger and guilt, respectively. Frequency and severity of physical abuse were not correlated with depressive or posttraumatic stress symptomatology.