Stories as Change: Using Writing to Facilitate Healing among Genocide Survivors in Rwanda

2019 ◽  
pp. 232-252
Author(s):  
Laura Apol
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Adult Survivors ◽  
Narrative Text ◽  
Narrative Writing ◽  
Traumatic Memory ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Therapeutic Writing ◽  
Young Adult Survivors ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Healing Model

Therapeutic writing - that is, narrative writing that systematically follows a deliberately therapeutic format - has been proven effective in reducing the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and improving mental health because it allows an individual to organize traumatic memory by converting images and emotions into words and narrative text. This essay presents a rationale for therapeutic writing, then discusses the design for a particular writing-for-healing model that was developed and employed in working with young adult survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi of Rwanda. The essay then describes Rwandan participant interactions around and responses to the writing-for-healing project to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of narrative writing in response to trauma.

A review of psychological symptoms and post-traumatic growth among adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer

2020 ◽  
pp. 135910532097170
Author(s):  
Amy M Berkman ◽  
Rhonda S Robert ◽  
Michael Roth ◽  
Martha A Askins
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Cancer ◽  
Late Effects ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Adult Survivors ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Behavioral Risk ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Young Adult Survivors ◽  
Post Traumatic

The majority of childhood cancer patients survive well into adulthood, but remain at risk for psychological late effects that can impact overall health and quality of life. The current narrative review summarizes the literature on psychological late effects, including anxiety, depression, psychological distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidality, psychoactive medication use, and post-traumatic growth in survivors of childhood cancers. While results were mixed, many studies demonstrated that psychological symptoms occurred at levels higher than would be expected in the general population. Treatment, environmental, and behavioral risk factors, as well as symptom onset and trajectory merit further investigation.

scholarly journals Do somatic symptoms relate to PTSD and gender after earthquake exposure? A cross-sectional study on young adult survivors in Italy

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Carmassi ◽  
Valerio Dell’Oste ◽  
Filippo M. Barberi ◽  
Virginia Pedrinelli ◽  
Annalisa Cordone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Somatic Symptom ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Adult Survivors ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Tree Model ◽  
2009 L’Aquila Earthquake ◽  
Young Adult Survivors ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Objective. Increasing evidence confirms a strict relationship between mental disorders and physical health. Particularly, stressful life events and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been closely correlated with various physical disorders and somatic symptoms, such as chronic pain, gastrointestinal disorders, and headaches. The aim of this study was to investigate the emergence of somatic symptoms in a sample of young adult survivors 21 months after exposure to the L’Aquila 2009 earthquake, with particular attention to PTSD and gender impact. Methods. Four hundred and fifty high-school senior students (253 male and 197 female) exposed to the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake, 21 months earlier, were enrolled and evaluated by the Trauma and Loss Spectrum Self-Report (TALS-SR), for symptomatological PTSD, and the Mood Spectrum Self-Report-Lifetime Version (MOODS-SR) “rhythmicity and vegetative functions” domain, for somatic symptoms. Results. Significantly higher rates of endorsement of the MOODS-SR somatic symptoms emerged in survivors with PTSD compared to those without. Females reported higher rates of endorsement of at least one MOODS-SR somatic symptom compared to males; however, a Decision Tree model and a two-way analysis of variance model confirmed a significant effect of PTSD only. A multivariate logistical regression showed a significant association between the presence of at least one MOOD-SR somatic symptom and re-experiencing and maladaptive coping TALS-SR domains. Conclusion. This study corroborates a relevant impact of symptomatological PTSD, across both the genders, on somatic symptoms occurring in young adults after months from exposure to a massive earthquake.

scholarly journals Cardiorespiratory Fitness as Protection Against the Development of Memory Intrusions: a Prospective Trauma Analogue Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eline Voorendonk ◽  
Thomas Meyer ◽  
Sascha B. Duken ◽  
Vanessa van Ast
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Traumatic Memory ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Analogue Study ◽  
Post Traumatic

Intrusive and distressing memories are at the core of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Since cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been linked with improved mental health, emotion regulation, and memory function, CRF may, by promoting these capabilities, protect against the development of intrusions after trauma. We investigated this idea in 115 healthy individuals, using a trauma film to induce intrusions. As potential mediators, we assessed indices of pre-trauma mental health such as heart rate variability, subjective and psychobiological peri-traumatic responses, and memory. Critically, results showed that higher CRF was related to fewer intrusions, but no mediators emerged of the CRF-intrusion relationship. These results indicate that individuals displaying higher CRF are less prone to develop traumatic memory intrusions. This suggests that promoting fitness prior to possible trauma exposure may provide a useful strategy to boost resilience against the development of debilitating re-experiencing symptoms of PTSD.

scholarly journals Electroconvulsive Therapy with a Memory Reactivation Intervention for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor M. Tang ◽  
Kathleen Trought ◽  
Kristina M. Gicas ◽  
Mari Kozak ◽  
Sheena A. Josselyn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Electroconvulsive Therapy ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Memory ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Memory Reactivation ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Post Traumatic

AbstractIntroductionPost-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often does not respond to available treatments. Memories are vulnerable to disruption during reconsolidation, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has amnestic effects. We sought to exploit this phenomenon as a potential treatment for PTSD with a clinical trial of patients with PTSD receiving ECT.MethodsTwenty-eight participants with severe depression with comorbid PTSD referred for ECT treatment were randomly assigned to reactivation of a traumatic or non-traumatic memory using script driven imagery prior to each ECT treatment. Primary outcomes were change in scores on the Modified PTSD Symptom Scale - Self Report (MPSS-SR) and the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). Assessments were completed by blinded raters. Secondary outcomes included a comparison of the change in heart rate while listening to the script.ResultsTwenty-five patients who completed a post-ECT assessment were included in the analysis. No significant group differences were found in the MPSS-SR or CAPS-5 scores from pre-ECT to post-ECT or 3-month follow-ups. However, both groups improved at post-ECT and 3-month follow up. Partial eta squared estimates of effect size showed large effect sizes for all outcomes (η2 > 0.13). Changes in heart rate were not significantly different between groups or over time.ConclusionsIn this RCT, ECT paired with pre-treatment traumatic memory reactivation was not more effective for treating PTSD symptoms than ECT alone. While our primary hypothesis was not supported, our data provides further support for the efficacy of ECT for improving symptoms of PTSD with comorbid depression.ClinicalTrials.govhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04027452Identifier: NCT04027452

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