Analysis of the Sharp Objects Series in the Context of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20389821Keywords:
Family Dynamics, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Psychological TraumaAbstract
This study examines the miniseries Sharp Objects from a clinical psychology perspective within the context of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The impact of Camille Preaker's childhood experiences of emotional neglect, abuse, and loss on her psychopathological symptoms in adulthood is evaluated. In this context, re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance behaviors, cognitive and emotional changes, and increased arousal levels observed in the series are analyzed within the framework of DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. The study also addresses Camille's self-harming behaviors, heavy alcohol use, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships as trauma-related coping mechanisms. Regarding family dynamics, emotional abuse, pathological caregiving behaviors, and intergenerational trauma transmission are examined, particularly through the mother figure. The events in the series are evaluated within the framework of case formulation, drawing conclusions about the formation, maintenance, and psychological treatment of trauma. In conclusion, it is determined that the Sharp Objects series offers rich analytical material in the fields of post-traumatic stress disorder, family dynamics, and psychopathology, and can be used as an important resource for clinical psychology education.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). APA Publishing.
Beck, A. T. (2008). The evolution of the cognitive model of depression. American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(8), 969–977.
Bowlby, J. (1988). A secure base: Parent-child attachment and healthy human development. Basic Books.
Brewin, C. R. (2014). Episodic memory, perceptual memory, and their interaction: Implications for post-traumatic stress disorder. Psychological Bulletin, 140(1), 69–97.
Cicchetti, D., & Toth, S. L. (2005). Child maltreatment. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 1, 409–438.
Cusack, K., Jonas, D. E., Forneris, C. A., Wines, C. M., Sonis, R., Middleton, J. C., & Gaynes, B. N.(2016). Psychological treatments for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine, 165(2), 113-121.
Foa, E. B., Hembree, E. A., & Rothbaum, B. O. (2007). Prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD: Emotional processing of traumatic experiences. Oxford University Press.
Gross, J. J. (2015). Emotion regulation: Current status and future prospects. Psychological Inquiry, 26(1), 1–26.
Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and recovery: The aftermath of violence—from domestic abuse to political terror. Basic Books.
Horvath, A.O., & Symonds, B. D. (1991). Relation between working alliance and outcome in psychotherapy: A meta-analysis. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 38(2), 139–149.
Khantzian, E. J. (1997). The self-medication hypothesis of substance use disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152(11), 1259–1264.
Klonsky, E. D. (2007). The functions of deliberate self-injury: A review of the evidence. Clinical Psychology Review, 27(2), 226–239.
Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford Press.
Meadow, R. (2002). Munchausen syndrome by proxy abuse perpetrated by men. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 86(4), 248–250.
Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. Harvard University Press.
Nock, M. K. (2010). Self-injury. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 6, 339–363.
Otte, C., Gold, S. M., Penninx, B. W., Pariante, C. M., Etkin, A., Fava, M., Mohr, D. C., & Schatzberg, A. F.(2016). Major depressive disorder. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 2, 16065.
Rosenberg, D. A. (1987). Web of deceit: A literature review of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Child Abuse & Neglect, 11(4), 547–563.
Shapiro, F. (2017). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
Sinha, R. (2008). Chronic stress, drug use, and vulnerability to addiction. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 114(1), 105–130.
Stirling, J., & American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. (2007). Beyond Munchausen syndrome by proxy: Identification and treatment of child abuse in a medical setting. Pediatrics, 119(5), 1026–1030.
van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking Press.
Worden, J. W. (2009). Grief counseling and grief therapy (4th ed.). Springer Publishing.
World Health Organization. (2021). Depression. Worth Health Organization.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 JOURNAL OF WORLD WOMEN STUDIES
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
