scholarly journals Lost in the Host: The Struggle of a Syrian Refugee Family in Urban Schools with a Child Suffering from Undiagnosed PTSD Symptoms

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naglaa Mohamed
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Refugee Children ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Refugee Students ◽  
Syrian Refugee ◽  
Trauma Informed ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Syrian Refugee Crisis

The Syrian refugee crisis has put schools worldwide under pressure to meet the unique needs of refugee children, many of whom suffer from undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Using thematic analysis on open-ended interview data, the present case study examined the experience of a Syrian refugee family who recently arrived in the United States and their experiences at two different school districts. An analysis of the findings indicates the need for trauma-informed schools that provide tailored interventions and counseling to help refugee students overcome their traumatic experiences. This study also demonstrates a need for a revision to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act’s (IDEA) definition of an emotional disturbance to specifically include students who have experienced trauma. The four emerging themes that support these recommendations were positions that aggravate PTSD symptoms, schools’ negligence in accommodating for a new culture, an ineffective academic approach (sink or swim), and social isolation due to lack of acceptance. While this study focused on a Syrian refugee mother and her children, their experiences may advise a planned path for this growing population.

Association Between Intimate Partner Violence Subtypes and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Hazardous Substance Use

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110219
Author(s):  
Matthew M. Yalch ◽  
Sloane R. M. Rickman
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cumulative Effects ◽  
Hazardous Substance ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a common problem for women in the United States and is associated with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as hazardous use of substances like alcohol and drugs. However, not all subtypes of IPV (i.e., physical, sexual, and psychological) are equally predictive of PTSD and hazardous substance use. Although previous research suggests that psychological IPV has the strongest relative effect on PTSD symptoms and substance use, there is less research on IPV subtypes’ cumulative effects. In this study, we examined the relative and cumulative effects of physical, sexual, and psychological IPV on PTSD symptoms and hazardous substance use in a sample of women in the United States recruited via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk ( N = 793) using bootstrapped multiple regression and configural frequency analyses. Results suggest that physical IPV had the most pronounced influence (medium-large effect sizes) on substance use across women, but that the cumulative effects of all three IPV subtypes were most closely associated with diagnostic levels of both PTSD and substance use at the level of groups of women. These findings clarify and extend previous research on the differential effects of IPV subtypes and provide directions for future research and clinical intervention.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the effects of L-Theanine on neurobehavior in an adult male Sprague-Dawley Rat Model of PTSD

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-308
Author(s):  
John E Buonora ◽  
Patrick M Krum ◽  
Tomás Eduardo Ceremuga
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Memory ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Forced Swim Test ◽  
The United States ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Stress Model ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Shock Stress

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continues to be one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States and may occur in response to traumatic experiences. Currently, there are no interventions that prevent the development of PTSD. L-Theanine (L-Th), a major compound in green tea has been found to decrease anxiety and prevent memory impairment and may have potential effects in the prevention of PTSD. Sixty rats were divided into six experimental groups: control vehicle, control L-Th, control naïve, PTSD vehicle, PTSD Pre-L-Th (prophylactic), PTSD Post-L-Th (non-prophylactic). PTSD was induced by a 3-day restraint/tail shock stress model. The effects of L-Th on neurobehavior were evaluated by Elevated Plus-Maze (EPM), Morris Water Maze (MWM), and Forced Swim Test (FST). Our study found that the total food intake weight of PTSD Pre-L-Th (prophylactic) rats were significantly increased compared to that of PTSD vehicle rats (p = .04). Administration of L-Th 24 hours before the initial PTSD event or for 10 days following the last PTSD stress event did not statistically improve mean open arm exploration on the EPM, spatial memory, and learning in the MWM or behavioral despair measured by the FST (p > 0.05). Although the 3-day restraint/tail shock stress model caused stress in the rodents, it did not produce reported PTSD-like anxiety and depression or spatial memory loss. The effect of Pre-L-Th or Post-L-Th treatment, on the neurobehavioral functions could not be effectively evaluated. However, this study provides a foundation for future studies to try different rodent PTSD models to induce PTSD-like neurobehavioral impairments to explore dosage, frequency, as well as the duration of L-Th administration before and/or after the post-traumatic event. The 3-day restraint/tail shock stress model caused stress in the rodents, Pre-L-Theanine treatment preconditioned the PTSD rats to endure stress.

scholarly journals A Scoping Review of Trauma-Informed Curricula for Primary Care Providers

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 843-856
Author(s):  
Constance Gundacker ◽  
Tyler W. Barreto ◽  
Julie P. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Search Term ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Trauma Informed ◽  
The Impact

Background and Objectives: Traumatic experiences such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction have a lifetime prevalence of 62%-75% and can negatively impact health outcomes. However, many primary care providers (PCPs) are inadequately prepared to treat patients with trauma due to a lack of training. Our objective was to identify trauma-informed approach curricula for PCPs, review their effectiveness, and identify gaps. Methods: We systematically identified articles from Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Academic Search Premier, Cochrane, PsycINFO, MedEd Portal, and the STFM Resource Library. Search term headings “trauma-informed care (TIC),” “resilience,” “patient-centered care,” “primary care,” and “education.” Inclusion criteria were PCP, pediatric and adult patients, and training evaluation. Exclusion criteria were outside the United States, non-English articles, non-PCPs, and inpatient settings. We used the TIC pyramid to extract topics. We analyzed evaluation methods using the Kirkpatrick Model. Results: Researchers reviewed 6,825 articles and identified 17 different curricula. Understanding health effects of trauma was the most common topic (94%). Evaluation data revealed overall positive reactions and improved knowledge, attitudes, and confidence. Half (53%) reported Kirkpatrick level 3 behavior change evaluation outcomes with increased trauma screening and communication, but no change in referrals. Only 12% (2/17) evaluated Kirkpatrick level 4 patient satisfaction (significant results) and health outcomes (not significant). Conclusions: Pilot findings from studies in our review show trauma-informed curricula for PCPs reveal positive reactions, an increase in knowledge, screening, communication, and patient satisfaction, but no change in referrals or health outcomes. Further research is needed to examine the impact of trainings on quality of care and health outcomes.

scholarly journals Trauma informed interventions: A systematic review

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0252747
Author(s):  
Hae-Ra Han ◽  
Hailey N. Miller ◽  
Manka Nkimbeng ◽  
Chakra Budhathoki ◽  
Tanya Mikhael ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Health Inequities ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychological Outcomes ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Trauma Informed

Background Health inequities remain a public health concern. Chronic adversity such as discrimination or racism as trauma may perpetuate health inequities in marginalized populations. There is a growing body of the literature on trauma informed and culturally competent care as essential elements of promoting health equity, yet no prior review has systematically addressed trauma informed interventions. The purpose of this study was to appraise the types, setting, scope, and delivery of trauma informed interventions and associated outcomes. Methods We performed database searches— PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, SCOPUS and PsycINFO—to identify quantitative studies published in English before June 2019. Thirty-two unique studies with one companion article met the eligibility criteria. Results More than half of the 32 studies were randomized controlled trials (n = 19). Thirteen studies were conducted in the United States. Child abuse, domestic violence, or sexual assault were the most common types of trauma addressed (n = 16). While the interventions were largely focused on reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (n = 23), depression (n = 16), or anxiety (n = 10), trauma informed interventions were mostly delivered in an outpatient setting (n = 20) by medical professionals (n = 21). Two most frequently used interventions were eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (n = 6) and cognitive behavioral therapy (n = 5). Intervention fidelity was addressed in 16 studies. Trauma informed interventions significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in 11 of 23 studies. Fifteen studies found improvements in three main psychological outcomes including PTSD symptoms (11 of 23), depression (9 of 16), and anxiety (5 of 10). Cognitive behavioral therapy consistently improved a wide range of outcomes including depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, interpersonal problems, and risky behaviors (n = 5). Conclusions There is inconsistent evidence to support trauma informed interventions as an effective approach for psychological outcomes. Future trauma informed intervention should be expanded in scope to address a wide range of trauma types such as racism and discrimination. Additionally, a wider range of trauma outcomes should be studied.

Exploring How Trauma Is Addressed in Sexual Education Interventions for Youth: A Scoping Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 880-893
Author(s):  
Lisa S. Panisch ◽  
Monica Faulkner ◽  
Sofia B. Fernandez ◽  
Nicole M. Fava
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Trauma Informed ◽  
Education Interventions ◽  
Intervention Content ◽  
The Impact

Traumatic experiences are common among adolescents and can negatively affect learning and increase the risk of early pregnancy, parenthood, and sexually transmitted infections. Little is known about how current sexual health interventions address trauma. A scoping review was conducted to gain insight into how trauma is addressed in adolescent sexual health interventions. Peer-reviewed studies from the United States published between 2008 and 2018 describing a sexual health intervention for youth were considered. Studies were analyzed to determine if and how trauma was addressed in the interventions. Out of 169 articles initially screened, 29 met inclusion criteria and 23% ( n = 6) addressed trauma. Four interventions addressed trauma in the intervention content, while two studies evaluated trauma in outcome measures. Educators can broaden this reach by developing trauma-informed content that is compatible with existing curricula. Ongoing study is recommended to evaluate the impact of trauma-informed content on the sexual knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of youth.

scholarly journals The Syrian Refugee Crisis and Higher Education

2016 ◽  
pp. 9-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans De Wit ◽  
Philip Altbach
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Host Country ◽  
Refugee Crisis ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Refugee Students ◽  
Syrian Refugee ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Syrian Refugee Crisis ◽  
Academic Qualifications ◽  
Academic Study

The Syrian refugee crisis creates significant challenges for universities because many of the refugees have academic qualifications and may want to pursue academic study once they have been accepted into a host country. This article argues that refugee-students can bring advantages to universities as well as contributing to the economies of host countries in the long run. 

scholarly journals “I’m Thinking I Want to Live a Better Life”: Syrian Refugee Student Adjustment in New Brunswick

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Massfeller ◽  
Lyle Donald Hamm
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Refugee Children ◽  
Student Adjustment ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Refugee Students ◽  
Syrian Refugee ◽  
School And Community ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
Future Direction

In this paper, the authors explore the re-adjustment experiences of seven refugee students from Syria and Iraq who enrolled in a large high school in New Brunswick. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, school and community documents, and field notes. Five themes were identified and are reported and discussed in this paper. Recommendations for future direction regarding how to successfully integrate Syrian refugee children into Canadian schools are provided.

scholarly journals Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Training for US Service Members and Veterans with Symptoms of PTSD

2019 ◽  
Vol 184 (11-12) ◽  
pp. e626-e631
Author(s):  
Alison E Willing ◽  
Sue Ann Girling ◽  
Ryan Deichert ◽  
Rebecca Wood-Deichert ◽  
Jason Gonzalez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
The United States ◽  
Active Duty ◽  
South Florida ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Service Members ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress

Abstract Introduction The United States has been actively involved in major armed conflicts over the last 15 years. As a result, a significant proportion of active duty service personnel and returning veterans have endured combat, putting them at risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a disabling disorder that may occur after exposure to a traumatic event. Current therapies often require long-term, time-intensive and costly commitment from the patient and have variable degrees of success. There remains an ongoing need for better therapies, including complementary medicine approaches that can effectively reduce PTSD symptoms. While anecdotal evidence suggests that routine practice of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) can reduce symptoms of PTSD, there have been no formal studies to address this. Materials and Methods This study was approved by the University of South Florida Institutional Review Board (#PRO00019430). Male US active duty service members and veterans from the Tampa area participated in a 5-month (40 sessions) BJJ training program. Before beginning and again midway through and upon completion of training the participants completed several validated self-report measures that addressed symptoms of PTSD and other co-morbid conditions. Effect size and 95% confidence intervals were determined using a within-person single-group pretest–posttest design. Results Study participants demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in their PTSD symptoms as well as decreased symptoms of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety and decreased alcohol use; effect sizes varied from 0.80 to 1.85. Conclusions The results from this first-of-kind pilot study suggest that including BJJ as a complementary treatment to standard therapy for PTSD may be of value. It will be necessary to validate these promising results with a larger subject cohort and a more rigorous experimental design before routinely recommending this complementary therapy.

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