scholarly journals The Centrality of Events Scale for Italian adolescents: Integrating traumatic experience into one’s identity and its relation to posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Ionio ◽  
Eleonora Mascheroni ◽  
Paola Di Blasio

Adolescents could develop areas of vulnerability, especially if they have had to deal with highly stressful and traumatic life events. Stressful experiences can work as traumatic memories that become central to one’s life and core topics for one’s identity and for the attribution of meaning to life experience. The present work evaluates (a) the internal structures of the 20-item Centrality of Event Scale in the Italian context and (b) the impact of stressful and traumatic experience during adolescence. The present work includes a convenience sample of 872 Italian adolescents -528 males, 344 females- aged between 11 and 21 years (M = 15.85; SD = 2.09). We performed a confirmatory factor analysis that confirmed a three-factor solution. Moreover, the perception of stressful event as central in the participants’ lives was significantly correlated with the presence of PTSD symptomatology, as measured by the Impact of Event Scale Revised. We found that participants with PTSD symptoms had significantly higher CES scores. These data show the validity of the CES with adolescent samples, emphasizing the sensitivity of this instrument in detecting the impact of negative life experiences even in a sample of adolescents.

Author(s):  
Fatima Syed ◽  
Madiha Asghar ◽  
Gulshan Tara

The purpose of study was to determine the effect of traumatic events of December 16, 2014 on level of trauma of the children of Peshawar and the effect of traumatic experience their academics performance. Total sample consisted of two hundred (N=200) students with age range of 14-16 years (M=14.59, SD=1.128). Data was collected from the students of Army Public School and College System. Warsak road Peshawar and other three Schools on Warsak road included, Peshawar Public School, Peshawar Model School for Girls and Warsak Model School. Random sampling technique was used to recruit the study participant. Demographic information sheet, the Impact of Event Scale- Revised, Self-constructed questionnaire for measuring the Academic Performance of the students before and after traumatic experience of the students. Result showed that the terrorist attack effect the mental health of the students, students reported significant effect on their academic performance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Fernandez ◽  
Chiara Callerame

Survivors involved in natural or man-made disasters can develop a range of psychological problems including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, other forms of psychological distress, and a poor quality of life. Therefore, the principal focus of early psychological interventions, according to World Health Organization, is to provide a rapid and effective therapeutical approach like EMDR therapy. The EMDR approach enables the assimilation and integration of the various aspects of a traumatic experience at a somatic, sensorial, cognitive, behavioral and emotional level. In this article will be presented data of 47 patients collected after the partial collapse of Morandi bridge, in Genoa, in August 2018. Survivors were treated applying the Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol (R-TEP); in order to evaluate the effect of the traumatic event and to monitor the intervention outcome, the Impact of Event Scale- Revised (IES-R) was administered to each person pre and after EMDR treatment. Results show that regardless the number of sessions and the time elapsed after the disaster in which they were performed, EMDR significantly reduced participants’ IES-R scores from pre-treatment to posttreatment. Clinical implications and limits of the study will be discussed.


1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 793-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. ROSE ◽  
C. R. BREWIN ◽  
B. ANDREWS ◽  
M. KIRK

Background. It has been suggested that giving people the opportunity talk about a traumatic experience may prevent the development of later disorder. We tested the efficacy of two brief interventions, education and psychological debriefing, designed to prevent adverse psychological reactions to criminal victimization.Methods. Individuals who had been the victims of a violent crime within the past month were written to and invited to take part in a study of their attitudes to crime and punishment: 2161 were contacted and 243 replied, of whom 157 were eligible and were randomly assigned either to an education condition, to a psychological debriefing plus education condition, or to an assessment only condition. Education involved providing information about normal post-traumatic reactions. Debriefing involved in-depth probing about events, thoughts and feelings experienced during the crime. Subjects were recruited from police and hospital sources and interviewed in their own homes: 138 were followed up at 6 months, and 92 at 11 months.Results. Outcome was assessed using a DSM-III-R diagnosis of PTSD, the Post-traumatic Symptom Scale, the Impact of Event Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. All groups improved over time but there were no between-group differences.Conclusions. No evidence was found to support the efficacy of brief one-session interventions for preventing post-traumatic symptoms in individual victims of violent crime.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ines Wilhelm ◽  
Yasmine Azza ◽  
Karin Brennwald ◽  
Yamina Ehrt-Schäfer ◽  
Erich Seifritz ◽  
...  

AbstractCognitive models assume that the incomplete integration of a traumatic experience into the autobiographical memory results in typical symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) such as intrusive re-experiencing. Sleep supports the integration of new experiences into existing memory networks through memory consolidation. In fifty-six females, we investigated whether a 90-min daytime nap (n = 33) compared to a wake period (n = 23) after being exposed to an experimental trauma (i.e. a trauma film) prevents PTSD analogue symptoms. Intrusive memories were recorded for seven days using a diary, overall PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Impact of Event Scale (IES-R) and affective response to trauma cues were measured one week after experimental trauma. The two groups did not differ in any of the analogue PTSD symptoms. However, participants obtaining rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in the nap experienced less distressing intrusive memories. Moreover, the duration of REM sleep and slow wave activity was negatively correlated with analogue PTSD symptoms. Our findings suggest that even a short sleep period after experimental trauma can play a protective role in trauma memory formation but only if the nap contains REM sleep. Our data provide additional evidence for a critical role of REM sleep in PTSD development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia M. Tran ◽  
Laila Fozouni ◽  
Jana K. Denkinger ◽  
Caroline Rometsch ◽  
Florian Junne ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Ensuring adequate utilization of healthcare services for displaced populations is critical, yet there are well-documented treatment gaps. Yazidi women captured by the Islamic State (IS) were subjected to extreme trauma and violence. This study aims to understand perceptions of healthcare providers and utilization of these services among women who experienced extreme trauma. Methods This is a qualitative study with voluntary participation offered to approximately 400 women resettled through the Special Quota Program. An empirical approach was used to collect data and a grounded theory approach was used for content analysis. Participants ranked their interactions with providers on a Likert scale. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were assessed using the impact of event scale-revised questionnaire. Results A total of 116 Yazidi women participated in this study. The women experienced an average of 6.8 months of captivity by IS and 93% met criteria for probable PTSD. Eighty-three percent of the women interacted with a physician; 80% found this interaction helpful. Sixty-nine percent interacted with psychologists; 61% found this interaction helpful. Six themes emerged: “reminders of trauma” and “hopelessness” in relation to the traumatic experience; “immediate relief” and “healing through pharmaceutical treatment” in relation to provider interventions, and “support” and “cultural differences” in relation to interactions with providers. Conclusions There exist major barriers to care for Yazidi women who experienced extreme trauma, particularly in regards to psychiatric care. Perceptions of healthcare providers and perceived effectiveness of therapy are critical factors that must be taken into consideration to improve healthcare utilization and outcomes.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 99-106
Author(s):  
Cheryl Anderson ◽  
Sarah Strickland

Introduction: Many studies have explored the role of acculturation on health outcomes; however, no studies to date have examined relationships between acculturation and the traumatic stress of childbirth among Hispanic adolescents. Method: A convenience sample of 66 Hispanic adolescents 13 to 19 years of age completed the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans–II (ARSMA-II), a demographic sheet, birth appraisal scale, and the Impact of Event Scale within 72 hours of birth. Results: Significant associations were found between the ARSMA-II subscales and acculturation proxy variables, excluding language; however, only the Mexican Orientation Subscale and generation proxy variable influenced the birth experience. The study findings showed that Hispanic adolescents reporting a more traumatic childbirth identified closer with the Mexican culture and reported fewer family generations residing in the United States. Conclusion: As an overlooked area of research, our findings support the need for additional research related to the traumatic stress of birth among Hispanic adolescents. Using multiple acculturation measurements, including the ARSMA-II, with larger, more diverse samples of adolescents, equally balanced between all categories of acculturation and placement within the five-tier generation matrix, can provide some insightful information and directed health care.


2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 259-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eelco Olde ◽  
Rolf J. Kleber ◽  
Onno van der Hart ◽  
Victor J.M. Pop

Childbirth has been identified as a possible traumatic experience, leading to traumatic stress responses and even to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study investigated the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) in a group of women who recently gave birth (N = 435). In addition, a comparison was made between the original IES and the IES-R. The scale showed high internal consistency (α = 0.88). Using confirmatory factor analysis no support was found for a three-factor structure of an intrusion, an avoidance, and a hyperarousal factor. Goodness of fit was only reasonable, even after fitting one intrusion item on the hyperarousal scale. The IES-R correlated significantly with scores on depression and anxiety self-rating scales, as well as with scores on a self-rating scale of posttraumatic stress disorder. Although the IES-R can be used for studying posttraumatic stress reactions in women who recently gave birth, the original IES proved to be a better instrument compared to the IES-R. It is concluded that adding the hyperarousal scale to the IES-R did not make the scale stronger.


2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Orazem ◽  
Claire Hebenstreit ◽  
Daniel King ◽  
Lynda King ◽  
Arieh Shalev ◽  
...  

2005 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauleen Bennett ◽  
Vanessa Rohlf

AbstractThis study explored possible identification of Perpetration-induced Traumatic Stress (PITS) in workers whose occupations required euthanizing nonhuman animals and determining whether event or person-related factors influenced symptoms. The sample included 148 animal workers: veterinarians, veterinary nurses, and research and animal shelter staff. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) assessed traumatic stress. Experimenters constructed additional scales measuring satisfaction with social support, participation in various types of training, and concern over animal death. More than 70% of participants reported affinity toward animals had strongly influenced their occupation selection. Half the sample perceived animal death—particularly euthanasia—as one of the least desirable jobs. Of the sample, 11% reported experiencing moderate levels of traumatic symptoms. The study found lower levels of euthanasia-related stress were associated with increased satisfaction with social support and length of time working with animals. Those who reported high levels of concern about animal death reported higher levels of euthanasia-related stress. The study found occupational context was not associated with different levels of euthanasia-related stress symptoms—even though reasons for administering euthanasia differed significantly between occupations.


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