Testing Cognitive Models to Characterize Trauma Anniversary Reactions Marked by Stress and Growth

2021 ◽  
pp. 003022282110666
Author(s):  
Madeline J. Bruce ◽  
Terri L. Weaver

Objective: Contemporary theories conceptualize the anniversary of a traumatic event as a trauma reminder capable of activating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. The current study uses the cognitive stress and growth model to examine this model’s usefulness in characterizing anniversary reactions. Method: Participants ( N = 197) were MTurk workers who endorsed an “emotionally charged reaction on or near the anniversary of a tragic event.” They completed assessments of PTSD, posttraumatic growth (PTG), sense of control, rumination, and trauma centrality. Results: Multiple regression analyses found both anniversary-related stress and PTSD symptoms were associated with similar factors with similar magnitude across both outcomes. Trauma centrality was uniquely associated with anniversary-related PTG. Conclusions: Anniversaries marked by stress are characterized by factors similar to PTSD generally, but growth-related reactions have different correlates compared to PTG outside the reaction. These findings suggest the anniversary period may be a time of self-reflection about the event and its impact.

Journalism ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 1308-1325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Lee ◽  
Eun Hye Ha ◽  
Jung Kun Pae

This study investigated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms on Korean journalists and the contributing variables. Predicting variables included the exposure to traumatic events, coping strategy, social support, optimism, negative beliefs, and the journalists’ occupational perspectives. A total of 367 Korean journalists participated in the survey. The findings revealed that, first, Korean journalists had suffered severely from PTSD symptoms according to the prevalence rate. Second, the extent of traumatic event exposure, the length of career, the use of dysfunctional coping strategy, a lack of social support, and negative beliefs were identified as significantly related variables. Finally, occupational perspectives showed meaningful associations with development of the symptoms. This study provided an empirical analysis of Korean journalists’ experiences of traumatic events and psychological stress for the first time.


Author(s):  
O. Tokhtamysh

This topic is particularly relevant in the context of combat operations in eastern Ukraine against the occupation of the country, where members of the combined forces operation in each day are in a situation threatening the life and risk of getting a military psychological trauma. The article considers the elements and conditions of post-traumatic growth in the context of the rehabilitation process and the social promotion of human development after a traumatic event. The phenomenon of post-traumatic growth can transform the concept of rehabilitation into a term that can be labeled as "proabilitation". The forms of social and rehabilitation support in terms of creating conditions for post-traumatic growth and their effectiveness are explored. The theoretical and applied models with resource elements of the rehabilitation process and post-traumatic growth process are analyzed. It is noted that the traditional model of posttraumatic growth pay attention to the process of rumination and getting control over it and ignores one of the basic symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder, such as uncontrolled visual images (flash backs). The two-component concept of post-traumatic growth, which may be «illusory» or «adaptive», can also be presented as a «compensatory» or «healing» type with regard to the presence or absence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms after reaching post-traumatic growth. Posttraumatic growth occurs in several domains and can be depending on the type of traumatic event experienced, the individual reactions and the psychological qualities of the person. This process is not such that it automatically eliminates the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, the same, rejecting the need for psychotherapeutic and psychosocial care and focusing only on post-traumatic growth can be a false strategy for those who have experienced a traumatic event. Consequently, the phenomenon of post-traumatic growth can be regarded as a powerful resource factor for the rehabilitation process, in particular, as a motivational component of psychosocial assistance.


2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  
pp. 1875-1878 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Pirzada Sattar ◽  
Bernadette Ucci ◽  
Kathleen Grant ◽  
Subhash C Bhatia ◽  
Frederick Petty

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of improvement in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after adjunctive therapy with quetiapine. CASE SUMMARY: A 49-year-old white man witnessed a traumatic event and experienced severe PTSD. He was started on paroxetine, with increases in dosage and no significant improvement. Quetiapine was added to his regimen, with increased doses resulting in improvement of PTSD symptoms, both clinically and as measured on the Hamilton-D rating scale for depression and the clinician-administered PTSD screen. DISCUSSION: This is the first case published in the English language literature describing improvement in PTSD symptoms after treatment with quetiapine. There are several treatment options for PTSD, but some severe cases may require treatment with antipsychotic medications. Because of the lower risks of serious adverse effects, the newer atypical antipsychotics are much safer than the older antipsychotics. Although use of risperidone and olanzapine in the successful treatment of PTSD has been reported in the literature, there are no reports of quetiapine use in this clinical condition. CONCLUSIONS: Quetiapine appeared to improve clinical signs and symptoms of PTSD in this patient. It may be a treatment option in other severe cases of PTSD.


2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 342-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie Bertaina-Anglade ◽  
Susan M O’Connor ◽  
Emile Andriambeloson

Objectives: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent, chronic, disabling disorder that may develop following exposure to a traumatic event. This review summarizes currently used animal models of PTSD and their potential role in the development of better therapeutics. Heterogeneity is one of the main characteristics of PTSD with the consequence that many pharmacological approaches are used to relieve symptoms of PTSD. To address the translational properties of the animal models, we discuss the types of stressors used, the rodent correlates of human PTSD (DSM-5) symptoms, and the efficacy of approved, recommended and off-label drugs used to treat PTSD in ‘PTSD-animals’. Conclusions: Currently available animal models reproduce most PTSD symptoms and are validated by existing therapeutics. However, novel therapeutics are needed for this disorder as not one drug alleviates all symptoms and many have side effects that lead to non-compliance among PTSD patients. The true translational power of animal models of PTSD will only be demonstrated when new therapeutics acting through novel mechanisms become available for clinical practice.


2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 656-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ananda B. Amstadter ◽  
Steven H. Aggen ◽  
Gun Peggy Knudsen ◽  
Ted Reichborn-Kjennerud ◽  
Kenneth S. Kendler

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the only disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders that requires an environmental exposure. The relationship between liability factors for trauma exposure and those for PTSD symptoms following exposure are unclear. Methods: Exposure to a trauma and resulting PTSD symptoms were assessed in a sample of 2,794 members of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health Twin Panel. Results: In the full sample, 737 twins experienced a trauma. A modified causal, contingent, common pathway model was used to examine trauma exposure and liability for PTSD. Genetic and common environmental factors could not be distinguished, so a model that included only familial and individual specific components was fit. The best-fitting model suggested that familial factors played an important role in liability for trauma exposure and for resulting PTSD symptoms, and that there was a modest transmission between trauma exposure and subsequent PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: One third of the variance in liability of PTSD symptoms is due to familial factors, and of this, approximately one fifth overlaps with the familial liability for trauma exposure while the other four fifths of the variance is specific to the risk of PTSD symptoms following exposure. The hypothesis that PTSD is etiologically similar to exposures to a traumatic event is not supported, suggesting that the factors that confer risk for trauma do not overlap completely with those that confer risk for PTSD.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonya G. Wanklyn

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD) commonly cooccur following trauma, and their co-occurrence is associated with substantial costs; however, our understanding of the timing and sequencing of these posttrauma mental health conditions is limited. This study examined the trajectories of PTSD symptom severity and substance use among individuals recently exposed to a traumatic event, with a focus on the potential moderating roles of PTSD and SUD diagnoses at the final assessment. Additionally, in attempt to better understand the functional relationship between PTSD symptoms and substance use posttrauma, this study compared models reflecting the theories of self-medication, susceptibility, and mutual maintenance. Participants included 137 individuals who had experienced a traumatic event within 6 months prior to study enrollment. Participants completed four assessments over an approximate 1-year period that included clinician-administered measures for DSM-5 PTSD symptoms and SUD diagnosis and self-report measures of alcohol and drug use. Change over time in PTSD symptoms and substance use by diagnostic status were investigated using growth curve models. Temporal sequencing between PTSD symptom severity and substance use was investigated with bivariate latent difference score structural equation modeling. In line with the conceptualization of PTSD as a disorder of impeded recovery, having a diagnosis of PTSD at the final assessment moderated the trajectory of PTSD symptom severity such that symptom severity declined only among those without PTSD. In contrast, the influence of SUD appeared to be negligible. Both PTSD and SUD diagnoses were associated with initial drug use frequency. However, the relationship between alcohol use and diagnostic status did not reach statistical significance. Regarding temporal relationships between PTSD symptoms and substance use, significant and negative PTSD to change in substance use cross-lagged paths were found across most of the models, while only one significant substance use to change in PTSD severity crosslagged path emerged in the PTSD intrusion with alcohol use model. These results add to a growing body of research suggesting trauma-focused intervention is viable for individuals with PTSD/SUD. Further, examination of potential mediators and moderators of the relation between PTSD and SUD is recommended as a critical focus for future research.


Author(s):  
MacKenzie A. Sayer ◽  
Sarah Ostrowski-Delahanty ◽  
Maria L. Pacella-LaBarbara ◽  
Douglas L. Delahanty

The diagnosis of acute stress disorder (ASD) was originally introduced in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) to identify survivors soon after a trauma who were likely to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, despite demonstrating acceptable predictive power, subsequent research often failed to display high rates of sensitivity or specificity for ASD predicting PTSD. This led researchers to question the utility of the diagnosis and ultimately led to a revision of the diagnosis in the fifth edition of DSM. The updated ASD diagnosis was intended to primarily promote access to healthcare services following a traumatic event, and symptoms were not selected with the aim of predicting likelihood of one developing PTSD. Ultimately, the DSM-5 ASD criteria align more closely with PTSD symptoms without an emphasis on dissociative symptoms (as was true of the DSM-IV). This chapter summarizes the development of the ASD criteria/diagnosis and evaluates the utility of the reconceptualized diagnosis for both clinicians and researchers.


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 166-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Sommer ◽  
Martina Hinsberger ◽  
Roland Weierstall ◽  
Leon Holtzhausen ◽  
Debra Kaminer ◽  
...  

Violence exposure poses a risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and appetitive aggression. Does acknowledgment of violent experiences by one’s social environment also affect these adverse consequences of violence? We investigated relations between number of traumatic event types, number of violent offenses, PTSD symptoms, appetitive aggression, and social acknowledgment. A total of 290 participants were recruited through a Cape Town rehabilitation center for offenders. Using path analysis, we demonstrate higher societal disapproval to be associated with more intense PTSD symptoms and greater appetitive aggression. However, past experiences of recognition were also related to more intense PTSD symptoms. Violence exposure was positively associated with PTSD symptoms and appetitive aggression, and a higher number of violent offenses was related to greater appetitive aggression. Results indicate that besides violence exposure, social acknowledgment may play a significant role in the severity of PTSD and appetitive aggression. Intervention programs should not neglect targeting social structures.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Safwan Wshah ◽  
Christian Skalka ◽  
Matthew Price

BACKGROUND A majority of adults in the United States are exposed to a potentially traumatic event but only a handful go on to develop impairing mental health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). OBJECTIVE Identifying those at elevated risk shortly after trauma exposure is a clinical challenge. The aim of this study was to develop computational methods to more effectively identify at-risk patients and, thereby, support better early interventions. METHODS We proposed machine learning (ML) induction of models to automatically predict elevated PTSD symptoms in patients 1 month after a trauma, using self-reported symptoms from data collected via smartphones. RESULTS We show that an ensemble model accurately predicts elevated PTSD symptoms, with an area under the curve (AUC) of .85, using a bag of support vector machines, naive Bayes, logistic regression, and random forest algorithms. Furthermore, we show that only 7 self-reported items (features) are needed to obtain this AUC. Most importantly, we show that accurate predictions can be made 10 to 20 days posttrauma. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that simple smartphone-based patient surveys, coupled with automated analysis using ML-trained models, can identify those at risk for developing elevated PTSD symptoms and thus target them for early intervention.


2003 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 12-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Semra Čavaljuga ◽  
Ifeta Liačnin ◽  
Nedad Mulabegović ◽  
Dubravka Potkonjak

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder characterised by an acute emotional response to a traumatic event or situation involving severe environmental stress (natural disasters, wars, epidemics, rape, assaults, physical torture, catastrophic illness or accident), which may be identified in cognitive, affective or sensory motor activities. The objective was to perform a pilot clinical trial designed to compare the effects of older (tricyclic) and newer “second-generation” (selective inhibitors of serotonin uptake) antidepressants in the treatment of PTSD. A total of 20 hospitalised chronic military combat Bosnian veterans with PTSD symptoms were randomly assigned into two groups of 10 patients each. One group was treated with amitriptyline hydrochloride (AMYZOL®) 75 mg/day as a representative of older antidepressants and the other with fluoxetine hydrochloride 60 mg/day (OXETIN®) as a representative of newer antidepressants. Those drugs were administered by mouth two or three times-a-day in equally divided doses for at least 8 weeks. Favourable response was achieved in 70% of patients treated with amitriptyline hydrochloride and 60% of patients treated with fluoxetine hydrochloride. Amitriptyline hydrochloride was more effective in the treatment of acute PTSD symptoms (emotional numbing, startle reaction, nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, vulnerability, poor impulse control or irritability and explosiveness). Fluoxetine hydrochloride showed a greater efficacy in the treatment of chronic PTSD symptoms (avoidance and numbing symptoms, hyperarousal, nightmares and a feeling of guilt).


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