Smoking, traumatic event exposure, and post-traumatic stress: A critical review of the empirical literature☆

BackgroundPain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are frequently co-morbid in the aftermath of a traumatic event. Although several models attempt to explain the relationship between these two disorders, the mechanisms underlying the relationship remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between each PTSD symptom cluster and pain over the course of post-traumatic adjustment.MethodIn a longitudinal study, injury patients (n=824) were assessed within 1 week post-injury, and then at 3 and 12 months. Pain was measured using a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to identify causal relationships between pain and PTSD.ResultsIn a saturated model we found that the relationship between acute pain and 12-month pain was mediated by arousal symptoms at 3 months. We also found that the relationship between baseline arousal and re-experiencing symptoms, and later 12-month arousal and re-experiencing symptoms, was mediated by 3-month pain levels. The final model showed a good fit [χ2=16.97, df=12, p>0.05, Comparative Fit Index (CFI)=0.999, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)=0.022].ConclusionsThese findings provide evidence of mutual maintenance between pain and PTSD.

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Prevalence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among School-age Adolescent

International Neuropsychiatric Disease Journal ◽

10.9734/indj/2020/v14i130121 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 40-49

Author(s):

Khalid Astitene ◽

Hassan Aguenaou ◽

Laila Lahlou ◽

Amina Barkat

Keyword(s):

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Reaction Index ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Post Traumatic

Aim: After a traumatic event, the person can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the purpose of the study is to assess the prevalence of PTSD in adolescents in public middle schools of the prefecture of Salé in Morocco and study anxiety and depression which are the comorbid disorders of the PTSD. The survey was carried out from March to June 2017. Methods: 523 students were selected by the cross-sectional method from fifteen schools that were randomly selected, the age of the students vary between 12 and 17 years. For the survey, standardized questionnaires (the socio-demographic data, the Life Events Checklist, the CPTS-RI (Children's Post Traumatic Stress Reaction Index), the STAIY (State Trait Inventory Anxiety Form Y) and the CDI (Children Depression Inventory) were used which were filled in by the students. Results: The prevalence of PTSD was 70.4% in the students who have PTSD. We found that the prevalence in boys was 46.74%, while in girls it was 53.26%. In addition to that, 81% of students found to be anxious and 51.8% of students have depression. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder among adolescents, there are practical implications for the support and care of these adolescents.

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Clinicians after the suicide of their patients

Oxford Textbook of Suicidology and Suicide Prevention ◽

10.1093/med/9780198834441.003.0065 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 549-554

Author(s):

Onja T. Grad

Keyword(s):

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Past Experiences ◽

Suicidal Patients

Emotional turmoil, disruption, shock, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), doubts in own competences as a professional: these are only few of many feelings and reactions that clinicians might experience when faced with the fact that patients they had treated took their lives. The range of reactions can span from none, which is rare, to severe disorders, and can sometimes result in more precautious treatment of future patients, or even in leaving the field of working with suicidal patients. How clinicians respond depends on many factors, such as the length and intensity of the treatment, the understanding of patients’ suicide, the knowledge and past experiences the clinicians have as well as the response of the patients’ family, and the response and support of the colleagues and the institution in which the treatment took place. Some of these factors can help—while others can hinder—the process of overcoming the traumatic event of patients’ suicide.

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Psychological sequelae of political imprisonment, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder, in 491 Days by Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

Literator ◽

10.4102/lit.v39i1.1451 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marisa Botha

Keyword(s):

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

Traumatic Experiences ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Psychological Sequelae ◽

Main Cluster ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Political Imprisonment

This article analyses well-known anti-apartheid activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s prison memoir 491 Days: Prisoner Number 1323/69 (2013) for depictions of suffering. This memoir reveals aspects of politically inflicted trauma, particularly the suffering sustained in prolonged solitary confinement and the resulting psychological sequelae for the prisoner. To move beyond a vague understanding of her traumatic experiences, this article draws on the field of psychiatry, specifically the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to gain greater insight as this tool may also be regarded as a type of narrative that could aid in the comprehension of traumatic events. References will be made to the three main cluster symptoms of PTSD: involuntary re-experiencing of the traumatic event, avoidance of reminders and an ongoing sense of threat. An interdisciplinary literary-psychological approach will probably lead to a deeper understanding of the mental consequences of political imprisonment, as PTSD was not an acknowledged disorder during Madikizela-Mandela’s detainment.

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The Pathways between Cortisol-Related Regulation Genes and PTSD Psychotherapy

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare8040376 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 376

Author(s):

Ivone Castro-Vale ◽

Davide Carvalho

Keyword(s):

Hpa Axis ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

Epigenetic Modification ◽

Pharmacological Treatments ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

First Line ◽

Cardiometabolic Disorders ◽

Post Traumatic

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) only develops after exposure to a traumatic event in some individuals. PTSD can be chronic and debilitating, and is associated with co-morbidities such as depression, substance use, and cardiometabolic disorders. One of the most important pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of PTSD and its subsequent maintenance is a dysfunctional hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. The corticotrophin-releasing hormone, cortisol, glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and their respective genes are some of the mediators of PTSD’s pathophysiology. Several treatments are available, including medication and psychotherapies, although their success rate is limited. Some pharmacological therapies based on the HPA axis are currently being tested in clinical trials and changes in HPA axis biomarkers have been found to occur in response not only to pharmacological treatments, but also to psychotherapy—including the epigenetic modification of the GR gene. Psychotherapies are considered to be the first line treatments for PTSD in some guidelines, even though they are effective for some, but not for all patients with PTSD. This review aims to address how knowledge of the HPA axis-related genetic makeup can inform and predict the outcomes of psychotherapeutic treatments.

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Usability Assessment of a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) mHealth App

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1541931213601937 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 1824-1828 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carolina Rodriguez-Paras ◽

Farzan Sasangohar

Keyword(s):

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Event ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Mental Health Disorder ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Color Scheme

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common mental health disorder that can affect those who have experienced a traumatic event. Despite the availability of different treatment options for PTSD, there are several barriers that prevent some patients from receiving treatment. To overcome these barriers, mobile health (mHealth) apps have been developed to allow access to therapeutic and self-assessment tools outside the clinic. Our review of literature shows that the three mostly used apps (PTSD Coach, PE Coach, and CPT Coach) are not empirically evaluated and very little information is available for the process used in design and development of these tools. This paper documents a usability study of the most popular PTSD mHealth app; PTSD Coach. Findings indicate that the learning component of the app provides useful information, the assessment is effective in keeping track of the symptoms, and that some of the tools provided can help mitigate some of the symptoms. However, the color scheme, lack of personalization options, and lack of clarity on the mitigation techniques was deemed to affect usability.

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