Diagnostic and Translational Utility of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Clinical Algorithm (STS-CA)

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110449
Author(s):  
Ginny Sprang ◽  
Adrienne Whitt-Woosley ◽  
Jessica Eslinger
Keyword(s):  
Functional Impairment ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Clinical Algorithm ◽  
Indirect Trauma ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Diagnostic Concordance

Objective: Current tools available to assess secondary traumatic stress (STS) do not account for whether the symptoms are functionally related to indirect trauma, determine functional impairment caused by the STS symptoms, and/or consider the duration of the disturbance. This prevents delineation of various expressions of traumatic stress related to indirect trauma that may constitute the phenomenon of STS. The STS Clinical Algorithm (STS-CA) was developed to make these distinctions, so that interventions can be tailored to need. This study investigates the following: (1) the diagnostic concordance between the STS-CA findings and scores on the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS); (2) reasons for diagnostic discrepancies between the STS-CA and the STSS assessments. Method: Three trained interviewers used the STS-CA to guide the determination of clinical outcome ( N = 181) in a diverse group of helping professionals. Results: There was 100% agreement between the CAPS and the STS-CA, and fair agreement (κ =.426, p = .000) between the STS-CA and the STSS. The STS-CA demonstrated more sensitivity in classifying positive cases, and specificity in delineating those with atypical cluster presentations or little to no functional impairment that prohibited a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis than the STSS. Implications: Effective treatment of STS requires proper identification and the delivery of protocols that are tailored to the unique ways that STS manifests. This study provides some insights into the utility of the STS-CA in guiding this process and creates STS categories to organize and classify intervention strategies.

scholarly journals “Its Hand around My Throat”. The Social Rendering of Borrelia

Relations ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ritti Soncco
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Patient Narratives ◽  
The Social ◽  
Body Dysmorphia ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Impact

This paper builds on biomedical and anthropological discourses of microbial agency to explore the important opportunities this discourse offers medicine, politics, anthropology, and patients. “Borrelia burgdorferi”, often termed “the Great Imitator”, is an ideal candidate for this discussion as it reveals how difficult it is to speak about Lyme disease without engaging with microbial agency. Based on 12-months research with Lyme disease patients and clinicians in Scotland, this paper offers a social rendering of the bacteria that reveals epistemologies of illness not available in medical accounts: the impact of social and psychological symptoms such as body dysmorphia, depression, shame, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide-related deaths on patients’ illness narratives. Divorcing agency from the bacteria silences these important patient narratives with the consequence of a limited medical and social understanding of the signification of Lyme disease and the holistic methods needed for treatment. This paper furthermore argues that the inclusion of patient worldings of Borrelia acting in the medical renderings offers a democratic determination of what the illness is. Finally, building on Giraldo Herrera and Cadena, I argue for a decolonization of Borrelia, exploring how the pluriverse both takes the epistemologies of patients seriously and reveals medical equivocation.

Towards an exposure-dependent model of post-traumatic stress: longitudinal course of post-traumatic stress symptomatology and functional impairment after the 2011 Oslo bombing

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (15) ◽  
pp. 3241-3254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ø. Solberg ◽  
M. S. Birkeland ◽  
I. Blix ◽  
M. B. Hansen ◽  
T. Heir
Keyword(s):  
Social Adjustment ◽  
Functional Impairment ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Exposed Group ◽  
Symptom Clusters ◽  
Emotional Numbing ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Over Time

BackgroundOur understanding of the dynamics of post-traumatic stress symptomatology and its link to functional impairment over time is limited.MethodPost-traumatic stress symptomatology (Post-traumatic Checklist, PCL) was assessed three times in 1-year increments (T1, T2, T3) following the Oslo bombing of 22 July, 2011, in directly (n = 257) and indirectly exposed (n = 2223) government employees, together with demographics, measures of exposure and work and social adjustment. The dynamics of post-traumatic stress disorder symptom cluster interplay were examined within a structural equation modelling framework using a cross-lagged autoregressive panel model.ResultsIntrusions at T1 played a prominent role in predicting all symptom clusters at T2 for the directly exposed group, exhibiting especially strong cross-lagged relationships with avoidance and anxious arousal. For the indirectly exposed group, dysphoric arousal at T1 played the most prominent role in predicting all symptom clusters at T2, exhibiting a strong relationship with emotional numbing. Emotional numbing seemed to be the main driver behind prolonged stress at T3 for both groups. Functional impairment was predominately associated with dysphoric arousal and emotional numbing in both groups.ConclusionsFor directly exposed individuals, memories of the traumatic incident and the following intrusions seem to drive their post-traumatic stress symptomatology. However, as these memories lose their potency over time, a sequela of dysphoric arousal and emotional numbing similar to the one reported by the indirectly exposed individuals seems to be the main driver for prolonged post-traumatic stress and functional impairment. Findings are discussed using contemporary models within an exposure-dependent perspective of post-traumatic stress.

scholarly journals Vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress in health care professionals

2017 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole A Guitar ◽  
Monica L Molinaro
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Vicarious Trauma ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic

Three-quarters of Canadians are exposed to a traumatic event sufficient to cause psychological trauma in their lifetime. In fact, post-traumatic stress disorder is a global health issue with a prevalence as high as 37%. Health care professionals trained to provide mental health treatment for these individuals are at risk of developing vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress, both of which result in adverse symptoms for the health care provider that often mimic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Vicarious trauma develops over time as the clinician is continually exposed to their clients’ traumatic experiences, while clinicians experiencing secondary traumatic stress begin to experience the symptoms of PTSD due to secondary exposure of the traumatic event. Both vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress cause mental, physical, and emotional issues for health care professionals that include burnout and decreased self-worth. Health care systems and administration should aim to develop training and professional education for health care providers. This review will emphasize what factors lead to the development of vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress, and what aids or supports can be implemented to treat the symptoms. The implications for policy development and training will be discussed.

scholarly journals Who Reports What? A Comparison of Child and Caregivers´ Reports of Child Trauma Exposure and Associations to Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Functional Impairment in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinics

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ane-Marthe Solheim Skar ◽  
Tine K. Jensen ◽  
Anna Naterstad Harpviken
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Community Violence ◽  
Functional Impairment ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Child And Adolescent ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic

AbstractIdentifying trauma-related symptoms is important for treatment planning at child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), and routine trauma screening may be a first step to ensure appropriate treatment. Studies with community samples have found modest agreement between children’s and caregivers´ report of exposure to potentially traumatizing events (PTEs). However, studies from clinical populations are scarce and the evidence base for screening recommendations is insufficient. The current study explores child and caregiver agreement on the child’s exposure to PTEs and its relationship with the child’s post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and functional impairment. The sample consist of 6653 caregiver-child dyads referred to Norwegian CAMHS between 2012–2017. The children were 6 to 18 years of age (M = 12.03, SD = 3.14) and 47% were boys and 45% were girls (8% missing). Children reported significantly more exposure to accidents or illness, community violence, and sexual abuse than their caregiver, but there were no differences for reports of domestic violence. Kappa results were fair to moderate, with the highest agreement rate for reports of sexual abuse, followed by domestic violence, community violence, and lowest agreement for accidents or illnesses. There were higher agreement rates among caregivers and older children, and caregivers and girls. In general, the child had higher PTSS and functional impairment scores when child exposure to PTEs were reported by both the caregiver and the child. Both children and caregivers should be included in trauma screening procedures at CAMHS to collect a more complete picture of the child’s experiences and treatment needs.

scholarly journals The last line of defense: Journalism photo editors and mental health during times of trauma

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Amber Garrett
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Editorial Decisions

Countless studies have been completed on the mental health of journalistic reporters and photographers after they cover traumatic events. However, no research has been done on the mental health of photo editors who must make editorial decisions for publications after looking at such images. This study aimed to uncover the effects of an intimate experience with traumatic imagery created by another individual in hopes of bringing light to an understudied population. After analyzing the recounts of seven photo editors from publications across the continental United States, it was ultimately found that photo editors experience symptoms of Secondary Traumatic Stress, which mimics those of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Photo editors also had a tendency of avoiding confrontation with their emotional turmoil by focusing solely on work, and that they experienced an increased sense of responsibility toward their photographers who were covering trauma. These findings can open the door to further research into STS and understudied populations of working journalists, as well as help develop training programs that may lead to a more resilient workforce.

scholarly journals Mewaspadai Secondary Traumatic Stress Saat Memberi Pelayanan Konseling

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Amirah Diniaty
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Significant Other ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Important Activity

Not infrequently counselor faced with complicated problems and traumatic outstanding experienced by the client. According to Figley and Stamm (in Stamm, 1999), a trauma counselor can come to experience some of the symptoms are similar to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is owned by their clients. Figley (in Richardson, 2001) defines this situation with Secondary Traumatic Stress (hereinafter referred to as STS), which is something that occurs naturally, is a behavioral and emotional consequences as a result of knowledge about a traumatic event experienced by a significant other. The term 'secondary' refers to the fact that the trauma experienced by others, but then experienced by the participating parties observe, giving aid, or listen to the story (Sidabutar, 2003). This is the "price" of giving attention, care, and help individuals who experience trauma. Counselors need to be aware of this condition. Discussion professional is one important activity that needs to be done.

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