Post-traumatic stress disorder among rural widows in Nsukka: risk factors and wellbeing domains

2021 ◽  
pp. 008124632110403
Author(s):  
Valentine C Ezeh

Losing a spouse to death is recognized as the most adverse life event that may increase the risk of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other psychopathology with studies demonstrating that widows experienced more post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms than their non-widowed counterparts. Although the adverse effect of post-traumatic stress disorder may be stronger for widows in rural areas, the existing literature has shown the need for greater research on post-traumatic stress disorder experiences among vulnerable Igbo rural widows in Nsukka, South Eastern Nigeria. Against this backdrop, this study examined factors that predict post-traumatic stress disorder and the effect of post-traumatic stress disorder on the wellbeing domains of Igbo rural widows. Among the 177 participants, partner intimacy (β = .300, p < .001), cause of husband’s death (sudden vs. anticipated) (β = .183, p < .01), perceived social support (β = –.300, p < .001), number of surviving children at the time of husband’s death (β = .210, p < .01), and age of last child as at the time of husband’s death (β = .355, p < .01) all significantly predicted post-traumatic stress disorder. Domains of wellbeing most negatively affected by post-traumatic stress disorder included general life satisfaction (66.10%), family relationship (62.71%), and overall functioning (61.02%). The findings suggest that post-traumatic stress disorder among Igbo rural widows is a serious health concern that requires mental health professionals identifying high-risk rural widows early for intervention and developing programs aimed at educating and training rural community members on post-traumatic stress disorder and where to seek help on onset.

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Iribarren ◽  
Paolo Prolo ◽  
Negoita Neagos ◽  
Francesco Chiappelli

The stress that results from traumatic events precipitates a spectrum of psycho-emotional and physiopathological outcomes. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that results from the experience or witnessing of traumatic or life-threatening events. PTSD has profound psychobiological correlates, which can impair the person's daily life and be life threatening. In light of current events (e.g. extended combat, terrorism, exposure to certain environmental toxins), a sharp rise in patients with PTSD diagnosis is expected in the next decade. PTSD is a serious public health concern, which compels the search for novel paradigms and theoretical models to deepen the understanding of the condition and to develop new and improved modes of treatment intervention. We review the current knowledge of PTSD and introduce the role of allostasis as a new perspective in fundamental PTSD research. We discuss the domain of evidence-based research in medicine, particularly in the context of complementary medical intervention for patients with PTSD. We present arguments in support of the notion that the future of clinical and translational research in PTSD lies in the systematic evaluation of the research evidence in treatment intervention in order to insure the most effective and efficacious treatment for the benefit of the patient.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
A. Tatay Manteiga ◽  
L. Laguna Sopena ◽  
M. Lloret Diez-Canseco ◽  
T. Merino Magán ◽  
S. Cepeda Díez ◽  
...  

Aims:Since the end of 19th century, mental health professionals have noticed that individuals who have experienced traumatic situations often present dissociative symptoms, such as amnesia or fugue states. Dissociation is a defensive mechanism that allows an individual to separate from conscience the psychological distress produced by the trauma. Our aim was to remark the association between Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and long-term dissociative disorders through the study of a clinical case.Method:A clinical case was followed and reviewed to illustrate this relationship.Results:Ten years ago, a 49-year-old man was diagnosed of PTSD after having witnessed several colleagues burnt in a tragic accident at work and having helped the emergency fire brigade to rescue other victims. His symptoms required treatment with antidepressants and psychotherapy, and fully remitted after one year. Nevertheless, during the last year, he has presented two dissociative amnesia episodes lasting for three days each, which were examined by a neurology service. More recently, he has suffered a ten-day episode of dissociative fugue, which required psychiatric hospitalization. Although the patient has been asymptomatic during a decade, it is remarkable that he has presented three dissociative episodes in a short period of time. One of them, the fugue state, is interesting because of its long duration and its relatively low prevalence in the general population.Conclusions:This clinical case allows us to appreciate the long-term relationships between psychological trauma and dissociation, in addition to the well-known short-term effects.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarisse Marie Claudine SIMBI ◽  
Yuhong Zhang ◽  
Zhizhong Wang

Abstract Background: Prior studies indicated that post-traumatic stress disorder is becoming a global health concern even though still poorly known and treated. In the aftermath of 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, studies found high rates of depressive and anxious symptoms along with PTSD among genocide survivors. Due to the highest cruelty in which the Genocide was committed, genocide survivors still need high special humanitarian services, of those including specialized health care services. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of psychosocial group therapies created by AVEGA Agahozo in reducing PTSD symptoms among Genocide survivors in Rwanda, 25 years after 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.Methods: We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study design with a sample of 98 genocide survivors who received group therapy by AVEGA Agahozo. We used a multi-stage random sampling method to select participants and 7 trained psychologists interviewed genocide survivors about their PTSD status before and after treatment using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition. The analysis was performed using SPSS version 17.1.Results: The results showed that women were 97.96% and men presented 2.04% of all participants because AVEGA Agahozo mainly focuses on helping women survivors who lost their husbands in Genocide and previous findings also concluded that women are very prone to suffer from PTSD than men. Paired t-test results showed significant differences between symptoms, before and after treatment (P<0.001 in all pairs). Cohen's d results also showed high effect sizes (d>0.5), only in pair 8 where the difference appears to be less significant (d=0.28). The descriptive statistics showed that the severity of PTSD symptoms dramatically reduced after treatment. But this difference of severity is only statistically significant among five (5) PTSD symptoms.: (Marked physiological reactivity after exposure to trauma-related stimuli [P=0.045, x2=38.111]; inability to recall key features of the traumatic event [P<001, x2=56.309]; persistent negative trauma-related emotions [P=0.013, x2=43.184]; self-destructive or reckless behavior [P=0.041, x2=38.535]; hypervigilance [P=0.020, x2=41.596]. Conclusion: Psychosocial group therapies created by AVEGA Agahozo effectively alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and severity among genocide survivors.


Author(s):  
Shai Shorer ◽  
Yael Caspi ◽  
Hadass Goldblatt ◽  
Faisal Azaiza

Abstract Many veterans coping with combat-post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) refrain from seeking psychological treatment. We explored the nature of illness recognition and treatment utilisation in two different cultural groups of Israeli veterans—Bedouin and Jewish. Using qualitative research methods, we interviewed twenty veterans dealing with PTSD (ten Bedouin and ten Jewish) and ten mental health professionals. Participants shared their experiences of symptoms, the ways they coped, and their perception of the costs and benefits of psychological treatment. Two main themes emerged: (i) ‘Veterans’ Perceptions of Their Mental Injury’. In stark contrast to their Jewish counterparts, Bedouin participants described extreme lack of understanding regarding the relationship between their exposure to combat trauma and their distress; (ii) ‘Veterans’ Perceptions of the Mental Health Services’. Bedouin veterans expressed fear of the stigma associated with PTSD and its detrimental social implications, for them and their families. Jewish veterans emphasised the beneficial and informative role of therapy. The findings underscore the impact of different cultural codes on help-seeking behaviours and on the ability to benefit from psychological treatment. It is recommended that mental health practitioners consider cultural backgrounds and individual differences when implementing trauma interventions, to fine-tune their suitability to veterans facing excessive barriers to care.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuriy Dobry ◽  
María Dolores Braquehais ◽  
Leo Sher

Abstract Bullying is a highly prevalent behavior which carries a significant social, medical and financial cost for its victims and perpetrators, with powerful and long-lasting psychological and social impact. Bullying has been defined as a specific form of intentional, repeated aggression, that involves a disparity of power between the victim(s) and perpetrator(s). The aggression can take physical, verbal or gestural forms. The behavior of bullying crosses sociodemographic categories of age, gender, ethnicity, level of academic achievement and professional environment. It has been abundantly observed by teachers and parents in elementary schools, but has also shown its negative presence in corporate boardrooms. The direst outcome of bullying, for both victims and perpetrators, is an increased risk of psychiatric disorders including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, substance abuse and suicidal behavior. Cruelty (and bullying, as one of its manifestations) breaks the basis of morality. Mental health professionals usually treat the victims of those actions unfortunately long after they have been exposed to the harm. The evidence does not support the idea that the majority of cruel actions are intrinsically “pathological”, in the sense of being motivated by “mental disorders”. Therefore, only moral rules and legal actions – but not psychiatric or psychological interventions – may dissuade humans from this form of cruelty.


2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Stahl ◽  
Meghan M. Grady ◽  
Nancy Muntner

The Stahl's Illustrated books are a series of pocket-sized, mid-priced, themed volumes. They distil theoretical information from the Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology volume and combine this with practical data from The Prescriber's Guide. They are illustration heavy and designed to encourage speedy learning of both concepts and applications. The visual learner will find that these books make the concepts easier to master, and the non-visual learner will appreciate the clear, shortened text on complex psychopharmacological concepts. This volume covers the latest developments in our understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. As well as covering the full range of management options, there is a specific focus on the implications for military populations. The Stahl's Illustrated series appeals to the widest possible audience of mental health professionals, and not just those with expertise in psychopharmacology.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukran Altun ◽  
Melanie Abas ◽  
Cathy Zimmerman ◽  
Louise M. Howard ◽  
Sian Oram

Mental health professionals have opportunities to intervene and provide care for trafficked people. Research shows that mental health problems – including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder – are prevalent among trafficked people, and that at least some trafficked people come into contact with secondary mental health services in England.


2020 ◽  
pp. 003022282094724
Author(s):  
Cindy Tofthagen ◽  
Diego F. Hernandez ◽  
Tina M. Mason ◽  
Harleah G. Buck ◽  
Kevin E. Kip

Complicated grief is a significant health concern for older adults, resulting in significant psychological and physical morbidity. Elements of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are often present in individuals with complicated grief. Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a brief form of psychotherapy that utilizes the techniques of imaginal exposure, rescripting of events, and lateral eye movements that may be useful in complicated grief with PTSD symptoms. Two cases where ART was used for complicated grief with PTSD are presented. Both individuals had attempted to come to terms with their loss through traditional grief therapy with an inadequate response and substantial residual grief symptoms. These cases illustrate how ART can be used to address CG and PTSD and describe situations where it may be appropriate. Clinical and research implications are also discussed.


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