Perceived support and psychological outcome following the 2004 tsunami: a mixed-methods study

Aims and methodThe effectiveness of official support provided following a disaster has not been fully evaluated. This study aimed to ascertain whether there was an association between perceived support shortly after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and later mental health symptoms in those affected, and to explore the factors associated with this. A survey, semi-structured interviews and focus group were used to explore the experiences and perceptions of 116 individuals severely affected by the tsunami.ResultsAgency or official support was perceived as poor overall. Perceived ineffectiveness of support available within a few days after the tsunami was associated with increased symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder 15–19 months later. The strongest themes that emerged from our study were that support provided in a humane manner was perceived as effective and that uncoordinated support, poor communication and limited accessibility to support and information were perceived as ineffective.Clinical implicationsImproved planning of coordinated, flexible, multi-agency responses to traumatic events before they occur is required.

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Veterans’ experiences of successfully managing post-traumatic stress disorder

Mental Health Review Journal ◽

10.1108/mhrj-01-2020-0003 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Gemma Parry ◽

Suzanne Margaret Hodge ◽

Alan Barrett

Keyword(s):

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Armed Forces ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Civilian Life ◽

Content Type ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

The Military

Purpose Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among UK veterans is higher than in the general population. However, prevalence figures do not reflect the complexity of this phenomenon and ways in which it may be bound up with veterans’ experiences of adjusting to civilian life. The purpose of this study is to explore veterans’ experiences of successfully managing PTSD. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six veterans who had served in the UK armed forces and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings Three themes were developed: accepting the problem, taking responsibility and gaining control; talking to the right people; and strategies, antidotes and circling back around. Managing PTSD appeared to be bound up with veterans’ experience of renegotiating their identity, where positive aspects of identity lost on leaving the military were rebuilt and problematic aspects were challenged. Participants sought to speak about their difficulties with others who understood the military context. They felt that their experiences made them a valuable resource to others, and they connected this with a positive sense of identity and value. Practical implications The findings suggest the importance of wider provision of peer support and education for civilian health services on veterans’ needs. Originality/value This study adds to the understanding of what meaningful recovery from PTSD may involve for veterans, in particular its potential interconnectedness with the process of adjusting to civilian life.

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Post-traumatic stress disorder in women who were victims of childhood sexual abuse

Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0790966700015044 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 124-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Kevin O'Neill ◽

Kamal Gupta

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Psychiatric Disorder ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Sexually Abused ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Ptsd Symptomatology

AbstractTwenty-six women who had been sexually abused in childhood were assessed by means of structured interviews as to the nature of the abusive experience and subsequent psychiatric disorder. Nineteen (73.1%) fulfilled the criteria of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and a comparison was made between PTSD and non-PTSD groups with regard to quantitative abuse variables. The phenomenon of latency or delay in onset in PTSD symptomatology was investigated. The possible implications of those findings were discussed.

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Birth trauma: the mediating effects of perceived support

British Journal of Midwifery ◽

10.12968/bjom.2020.28.10.724 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (10) ◽

pp. 724-730

Author(s):

Grace Baptie ◽

Jackie Andrade ◽

Alison M. Bacon ◽

Alyson Norman

Keyword(s):

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Perceived Support ◽

Birth Experience ◽

Trauma Symptoms ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Obstetric Intervention ◽

The Relationship

Background Many women experience their childbirth as traumatic, and 4-6% of mothers present with postnatal post-traumatic stress disorder. Aims To measure the relationship between obstetric intervention, perceived support in childbirth and mothers' experiences of postnatal trauma, and to identify salient aspects of the birth experience that are considered traumatic. Methods A total of 222 women in their first year postpartum were recruited between October and December 2018 via local mother and baby groups in southwest England (UK) and online social media pages. They completed an online survey regarding their birth experience. Further insight into mother's birth experiences was garnered through free-text responses in the survey. Results Overall, 29% of mothers experienced a traumatic birth and 15% met full or partial criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. Feeling supported mediated the relationship between obstetric intervention and postnatal trauma symptoms. Conclusions This study reinforces the value of supportive healthcare professionals and the power of a nurturing environment, which can buffer the potentially negative effects of an obstetrically complicated birth on postnatal trauma symptoms.

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