Individual and Collective Traumatic Memories: A Qualitative Study of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Two Latin American Localities

ObjectiveHaving a visual impairment is known to be associated with an increased vulnerability to (potentially) traumatic events. Little is known about how people with visual impairment experience and process such events. This qualitative study aimed to provide more insight into experiences with traumatic events, consequences of traumatic events and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related care among people with visual impairment and PTSD.MethodsEighteen persons with visual impairment and (a history of) PTSD were interviewed. Among them were 14 women and 4 men aged between 23 and 66 years. Recruitment of participants was done through health professionals from two low-vision service centres and a patient association for people with eye diseases and visual impairment in The Netherlands. Interviews focused on experiences with (1) traumatic events, (2) consequences of traumatic events and (3) PTSD-related care. Thematic content analysis of interview data was performed using ATLAS.ti. The COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ) checklist was used to check for completeness and transparency of the study. Data were collected between 2018 and 2020.ResultsThe most commonly reported traumatic events were sexual and physical abuse. Many participants experienced that their impairment had negatively affected their acceptance by others, independence and self-esteem, increasing their vulnerability for traumatic events. Additionally, having a visual impairment negatively impacted participants’ ability to respond to situations and aggravated post-traumatic stress reactions. Existing treatments seem suitable for people with visual impairment when accommodated to the impairment.ConclusionsHaving a visual impairment may affect traumatic events and post-traumatic stress reactions, particularly by contributing to low self-esteem, problems in social interactions and a lack of visual information. Insights from this study provide starting points for adapting pretraumatic and post-traumatic care to the needs of people with visual impairment.

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Treatment With Nepicastat Decreases Contextual Traumatic Memories Persistence in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnmol.2021.745219 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

Author(s):

Raquel Martinho ◽

Gabriela Correia ◽

Rafaela Seixas ◽

Ana Oliveira ◽

Soraia Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adrenal Gland ◽

Mrna Expression ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Mice Model ◽

Traumatic Memories ◽

Elevated Plus Maze Test ◽

Post Traumatic

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common anxiety mental disorder and can be manifested after exposure to a real or perceived life-threatening event. Increased noradrenaline and adrenaline in plasma and urine have been documented in PTSD. Dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH) catalyzes the conversion of dopamine to noradrenaline and consequently, DBH inhibition reduces catecholamines. Our aim was to evaluate if nepicastat treatment decreases PTSD signs in an animal model. Wild-type (129x1/SvJ) female mice were submitted to PTSD induction protocol. DBH-inhibitor nepicastat (30 mg/kg) or vehicle (0.2% HPMC) were administered once daily since day 0 until day 7 or 12. The percentage of freezing was calculated on days 0, 1, 2, and 7, and behavioral tests were performed. Quantification of nepicastat in plasma and DBH activity in the adrenal gland was evaluated. Catecholamines were quantified by HPLC with electrochemical detection. mRNA expression of Npas4 and Bdnf in hippocampus was evaluated by qPCR.Mice in the PTSD-group and treated with nepicastat showed a decrease in freezing, and an increase in the time spent and entries in open arms in elevated plus maze test. In mice treated with nepicastat, adrenal gland DBH activity was decreased, and catecholamines were also decreased in plasma and tissues. On day 7, in mice treated with nepicastat, there was an increase of Npas4 and Bdnf mRNA expression in the hippocampus.In conclusion, DBH inhibitor nepicastat has an effect consistent with a decrease in the persistence of traumatic memories and anxiety-like behavior in this PTSD mice model. The disruption of traumatic memories through interference with the formation, consolidation, retrieval, and/or expression processes may be important to decrease PTSD symptoms and signs. The increase in Npas4 and Bdnf mRNA expression in the hippocampus may be important to develop a weaker traumatic contextual memory after nepicastat treatment.

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An exploratory qualitative study exploring GPs’ and psychiatrists’ perceptions of post‐traumatic stress disorder in postnatal women using a fictional case vignette

Stress and Health ◽

10.1002/smi.3114 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Harriet Mortimer ◽

Haniah Habash‐Bailey ◽

Maxwell Cooper ◽

Susan Ayers ◽

Jennifer Cooke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Case Vignette ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Postnatal Women ◽

Post Traumatic

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The San Diego East County School Shootings: A Qualitative Study of Community-Level Post-traumatic Stress

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x00001564 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 113-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Lawrence A. Palinkas ◽

Erica Prussing ◽

Vivian M. Reznik ◽

John A. Landsverk

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Media Coverage ◽

San Diego ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

School Shootings ◽

Community Level ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Post Traumatic

AbstractIntroduction:Within one month (March 2001), two separate incidents of school shootings occurred at two different high schools within the same school district in San Diego's East County.Objective:To examine community-wide expressions of post-traumatic distress resulting from the shootings that may or may not fulfill DSM-IV criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but which might interfere with treatment and the prevention of youth violence.Methods:A qualitative study was undertaken using Rapid Assessment Procedures (RAP) in four East San Diego County communities over a six-month period following the two events. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 85 community residents identified through a maximum variation sampling technique. Interview transcripts were analyzed by coding consensus, co-occurrence, and comparison, using text analysis software.Results:Three community-wide patterns of response to the two events were identified: (1) 52.9% of respondents reported intrusive reminders of the trauma associated with intense media coverage and subsequent rumors, hoaxes, and threats of additional acts of school violence; (2) 44.7% reported efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, conversations, or places (i.e., schools) associated with the events; negative assessment of media coverage; and belief that such events in general cannot be prevented; and (3) 30.6% reported anger, hyper-vigilance, and other forms of increased arousal. Twenty-three (27.1%) respondents reported symptoms of fear, anxiety, depression, drug use, and psychosomatic symptoms in themselves or others.Conclusions:School shootings can precipitate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder at the community level. Such symptoms hinder the treatment of individuals with PTSD and the implementation of effective prevention strategies and programs.

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