In this qualitative study we examined the experience and perception of hope of 10 Israeli soldiers with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with the goal of achieving an understanding of the manners in which hope intertwines with trauma. The results indicate that hope is an integrative, changing, multidimensional phenomenon which plays a unique role in the individual's life. Viewing hope as a crucial aspect of human life was further evident when participants referred to the traumatic event. Hope and trauma are interconnected phenomena. The form of hope a person possesses thus shapes the manner in which the traumatic event is perceived, whereas the trauma clearly reshapes the individual's form of hope. We discuss practical implications for treatment of chronic PTSD, based on the important role of hope at times of trauma, as well as on the interrelation between hope and trauma.
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