Post-traumatic Stress Spectrum and Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum in Parents of Children with Epilepsy: Correlations and Gender Differences

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S721-S722 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Carmassi ◽  
M. Corsi ◽  
C. Gesi ◽  
C.A. Bertelloni ◽  
V. Pedrinelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Restricted Interests ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Adult Autism ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Domain Iii

IntroductionData that assess the co-morbidity between post-traumatic stress symptoms and autism spectrum are scarce. Nevertheless, some authors suggested that subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), due to their difficulty in understanding the codes of communication, empathy, expression, are lower resilience to traumas.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to explore in a sample of parents of children with epilepsy, the presence of correlations between the symptoms of post-traumatic stress and adult autism subthreshold spectrum.MethodsSeventy-seven parents completed the Trauma and Loss Spectrum Self-Report (TALS-SR), specifically modified for one's son epileptic disease, and 72 parents completed the AdAS Spectrum (Adult Autism subthreshold Spectrum).ResultsEight subjects (11.1%) presented a total score ≥45 at the AdAS Spectrum, corresponding to the satisfaction of a symptomatic ASD criteria and indicative of the Adult Autism Spectrum subthreshold. More specifically, a total score ≥45 was found in 7 (15.9%) of mothers and 1 (3.6%) of the fathers, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.139).Noteworthy correlations between TALS and AdAS, emerged only in the subgroup of the fathers. In particular, a relevant number of moderate to good correlations emerged between the Domain II (reactions to the events of loss) of the TALS-SR and the AdAS Domain III (non verbal communication), Domain VI (restricted interests and ruminations) and total score.ConclusionsResults indicate that this peculiar psychopathological model could lead to increased vulnerability to effects of the trauma, in particular in male.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

DSM-5 PTSD and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Spectrum in Patients with Fibromyalgia: Possible Correlations with Subthreshold Autism Spectrum?

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S722-S722
Author(s):  
C. Carmassi ◽  
C. Manni ◽  
G. Cipollone ◽  
C. Tagliarini ◽  
M.T. Avella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Potentially Traumatic Events ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
American College Of Rheumatology ◽  
Stress Spectrum ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionPTSD is extremely common in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) with rates up to 57%, and it often correlates with increased severity of the disease.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the presence of PTSD, diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria, and of Post-Traumatic Stress Spectrum symptoms in a sample of patients with FM.MethodsSixty-one patients, 7 males and 54 females, with FM, diagnosed according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) at the Unit of Rheumatology of A.O.U.P clinics, were assessed by: SCID-5; Trauma and Loss Spectrum Self-Report (TALS-SR); Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum).ResultsPatients with FM with full and partial PTSD reported a significantly higher number of losses and potentially traumatic events in the TALS-SR than patients without PTSD. Significantly, higher AdAS Spectrum scores in almost all domains were reported in patients with PTSD with respect to those with partial or without PTSD. Moderate to good correlations were highlighted amongst most of the TALS-SR and ADAS-Spectrum domains.ConclusionsSignificant DSM-5 PTSD rates emerged in our sample of patients with FM. Significant correlations were found between Adult Subthreshold Autism Spectrum and Post-Traumatic Stress Spectrum, corroborating recent hypotheses that indicate autism spectrum symptoms as vulnerability factors for PTSD.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Post-traumatic Stress and Subthreshold Autism Spectrum Among Divers of the Italian Navy Employed in Search and Rescue Activities

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S722-S722
Author(s):  
C. Carmassi ◽  
P. Isabella ◽  
C.A. Bertelloni ◽  
M. Corsi ◽  
G. Massimetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Adjustment ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Social Impairment ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Risk And Resilience ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Rescue Operation ◽  
Autism Symptomatology ◽  
Post Traumatic

IntroductionRescue emergency personnel is at high risk to develop PTSD due to possible extreme and repetitive exposition to “cruel details of traumatic events”.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore posttraumatic stress and subthreshold autism symptomatology and their impact on social and working functioning level among sub mariner of Italian Navy, who were employed in the Costa Concordia and Genova tower rescue operation.MethodsEighty-five subjects were enrolled and investigated by the following instruments: Trauma and Loss Spectrum Self-Report (TALS-SR), Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) and Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS).ResultsThe response rate was about 50%. Ninety-five percent of the subjects were employed in recovering corpses and 80% reported at least one rescue operation in the last three years. Full and partial DSM-5 PTSD rates were 8% and 27.5%, respectively. A strong correlation emerged between several TALS-SR and ADAS domain. Furthermore, TALS-SR domain scores were related to WSAS domain.ConclusionThis data showed rescue personnel to be at risk for post-traumatic stress spectrum and related work and social impairment. Further studies are needed to better investigate possible risk and resilience factors associated to PTSD.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The Association Between Autistic Traits and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Preliminary Findings Among Typically-developing Adults in Israel

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S137-S137 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Horesh ◽  
N. Haruvi-Lamdan ◽  
S. Lebendiger ◽  
O. Golan
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Post Traumatic

Background and aimsAlthough studies show that those suffering from autism spectrum disorders (ASD) face an increased risk of exposure to trauma (bullying, physical abuse), the co-morbidity between autistic symptoms/traits and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was almost entirely neglected by researchers. The aim of this preliminary study is to explore the possible associations between these two conditions among typically-developing college students.MethodsParticipants were 39 students, recruited from 2 Israeli universities. Twenty-four participants were psychology students, and 15 were business administration students. Participants completed self-report questionnaires tapping sociodemographic background, trauma exposure, PTSD (the PTSD Checklist-5, PCL-5), and autistic traits (the Autism Spectrum Quotient, AQ).ResultsOur preliminary findings revealed a positive association between symptoms of PTSD and autistic traits. More specifically, among those in the 3rd and 4th highest quartiles of AQ scores, 87.5% met the cut-off score for a probable PTSD diagnosis (χ2 (3) = 8.25, P < 0.05). In addition, t-tests comparing the PTSD and non-PTSD groups showed significant differences in 3 out of 5 AQ sub-scales: social skill (t(37) = –2.12; P < 0.05), attention switching (t(37) = −2.09; P < 0.05) and communication (t(37) = −2.80; P < 0.01). Thus, higher AQ scores were reported by those in the PTSD group.ConclusionsASD may serve as a significant risk factor for post-traumatic symptomatology. The associations between these two conditions may be mediated by a variety of potential shared vulnerabilities, including increased rumination, dysregulated emotion and impaired social cognition. Further research is needed in order to explore these mechanisms, as well as to assess co-morbidity in clinical samples of both ASD and PTSD.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Adult separation anxiety in patients with complicated grief: relationship with post traumatic stress versus mood spectrum symptomatology

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 142-142
Author(s):  
C. Carmassi ◽  
C. Socci ◽  
M. Corsi ◽  
I. Pergentini ◽  
E. Massimetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Adjustment ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Separation Anxiety ◽  
Complicated Grief ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionAround 9–20% of bereaved individuals experience symptoms of complicated grief (CG) associated with significant distress and impairment. Increasing research has been focused on identifying the distinctive set of psychiatric symptoms that characterize this condition with respect to major depression, corroborating the need to include this syndrome in the forthcoming DSM-V as a distinctive diagnosis. Vulnerability to CG has been rooted in attachment disturbances and authors reported that symptoms of separation anxiety in childhood should be considered as predictors of CG onset in adulthood.ObjectivesTo date no study explored symptoms of adult separation anxiety among patients with CG with respect to healthy control subjects (HC).AimsTo explore adult separation anxiety and mood spectrum symptoms in patients with CG with respect to HC.Methods53 patients with CG and 50 control subjects were recruited, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pisa. Assessments: SCID-I/P, the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG), the Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASA-27), the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), the Impact of Event Scale (IES) and the Mood Spectrum-Self Report (MOODS-SR) lifetime version.ResultsPatients with CG reported significantly higher scores on the MOODS-SR, ASA_27, IES and WSAS with respect to controls. The scores on the ASA_27 were more strongly associated with IES scores with respect to other scales.ConclusionsOur results suggest a correlation between adult separation anxiety and CG onset after the loss of a loved one in adulthood, with a possible correlation to a post-traumatic stress symptomatology. Further studies are needed.

scholarly journals Two Rapid Screens for Detecting Probable Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Interpersonal Violence Exposure: Predictive Utility in a Juvenile Justice Sample

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damion J. Grasso ◽  
Christine Doyle ◽  
Ron Koon
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Interpersonal Violence ◽  
Violence Exposure ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Predictive Utility ◽  
Risk Characteristics ◽  
Post Traumatic

The Trauma-Related Symptoms and Impairment Rapid Screen (TSIRS) and the Dimensions of Violence Exposure Rapid Screen (DVERS) are two new tools designed to detect traumatic stress symptoms and high-risk characteristics of trauma exposure. Each screen contains 10 yes-or-no questions and is estimated to take approximately 2 min to complete. The rapid screens were developed to address the demand for efficient, effective, and user-friendly tools for use in settings where universal screening of trauma and related symptoms is recommended, but training and expertise in clinical assessment are generally lacking or absent. The purpose of the current study was to examine the predictive utility of the TSIRS and DVERS in detecting probable post-traumatic stress disorder and poly-victimization assessed via a validated self-report instrument. Data were collected on a sample of 218 detained adolescents. Results provide initial support for the predictive utility of the TSIRS and DVERS in a justice-involved sample.

Treating post-traumatic stress disorder in the ‘real world’: evaluation of a specialist trauma service and adaptations to standard treatment approaches

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damon Lab ◽  
Ines Santos ◽  
Felicity de Zulueta
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Trauma Survivors ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Trauma Service ◽  
Social Difficulties ◽  
Post Traumatic

Aims and MethodTo evaluate the effectiveness of treatment at the Traumatic Stress Service (TSS) by comparing pre- and post-treatment scores on patient self-report measures. Through a questionnaire survey, to explore therapists' views of problems presenting in addition to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how, as a result, they adapted their approach to trauma work.ResultsTherapists reported that their patients present with a range of complex problems, and self-report measures show that patients suffer particularly high levels of psychopathology. Therapists identified a number of adaptations to trauma-focused work to deal with these additional problems. Of the 112 patients who completed therapy, 43% filled in pre- and post-treatment questionnaire measures. Analysis showed clinically and statistically significant improvements in levels of PTSD, depression and social functioning.Clinical ImplicationsThe typical presentation of trauma survivors is often not ‘simple’ PTSD, but PTSD resulting from chronic and multiple traumas and complicated by additional psychological and social difficulties. Adaptations to trauma-focused work can successfully treat such ‘complex’ PTSD.

scholarly journals Cognitive therapy as an early treatment for children with PTSD: the outcomes for parents’ own PTSD, depression, anxiety and general mental health.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Hammond ◽  
Richard Meiser-Stedman ◽  
Anna McKinnon ◽  
Tim Dalgleish ◽  
Patrick Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cognitive Therapy ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Health Questionnaire ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
General Mental Health ◽  
Post Traumatic

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced by children can have a large impact on the wider family. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2018) recommend that parents are involved in their child’s PTSD treatment. Studies have found that parents themselves also report high levels of PTSD and other mental health symptoms but few have explored whether these symptoms reduce following their child receiving trauma-focused CBT. In this study, parents (N=29) whose children (ages 8-17 years) were randomly assigned to either 10 sessions of Cognitive Therapy for PTSD (CT-PTSD) or a wait-list control condition (WL) completed the Post Traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9; to measure depression), the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28; to measure general mental health) for pre-post comparison. Parents whose children were allocated to CT-PTSD reported greater improvements on self-report PTSD, depression, anxiety and general mental health, relative to the WL condition. This trial provides preliminary support for the efficacy of CT-PTSD delivered to children for reducing parent PTSD, depression, anxiety and general mental health symptoms. Replication is needed as well as further exploration of parent factors and frequency of parental involvement required to predict improvements.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document