Sensory modulation and trauma-related symptoms during rocket attacks

Background: Although trauma exposure is universally prevalent, the ways in which individuals respond to potentially traumatic events vary. Between-country differences have been identified as affecting the development and manifestation of transdiagnostic psychological symptoms, but it remains unclear how stress and trauma-related transdiagnostic symptoms and risk patterns differ based on geographic region. Objective: To explore whether there are distinct classes of stress and trauma-related transdiagnostic symptoms and to determine predictors of class membership in a global sample. Method: Participants (N = 8675) from 115 different countries were recruited online between 2020–2022 and completed the Global Psychotrauma Screen, which assesses stress and trauma exposure, related symptoms, and risk factors. A latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify classes of stress and trauma-related symptoms per world region (African States, Asia-Pacific States, Eastern European States, Latin American and Caribbean States, Western European and Other States, and North America) and the total sample. Likelihood of class membership was assessed based on demographics, characteristics of the potentially traumatic event, and potential risk factors across the world regions. Results: Similar class compositions were observed across regions. A joint latent class analysis identified three classes that differed by symptom severity (i.e. high, moderate, low). Multinomial logistic regression analyses revealed several factors that conferred greater risk for experiencing higher levels of symptoms, including geographic region, gender, and lack of social support, among others. Conclusions: Stress and trauma-related symptoms seem to be similarly transdiagnostic across the world, supporting the value of a transdiagnostic assessment.

Background: Although trauma-related symptoms (e.g. complex PTSD and dissociative symptoms) and psychotic symptoms often co-occur, little is known about the complex relationships among these symptoms over time. Objective: This study examined the bidirectional relationships among complex PTSD symptoms, dissociative symptoms, and positive symptoms of psychosis. Methods: This study analyzed available longitudinal data from two convenience samples (Sample 1: N = 214, Chinese-speaking adults; Sample 2: N = 301, English-speaking adults). Participants in both samples completed validated measures of ICD-11 complex PTSD (that included measurement of ‘classical’ PTSD), dissociation, and positive symptoms of psychosis at baseline and follow-up, six months (Sample 1) or 12 months (Sample 2) apart. A cross-lagged panel model was used to examine the longitudinal relationship between trauma-related symptoms and psychotic symptoms in each sample. Results: In Sample 1, baseline dissociative symptoms significantly predicted positive symptoms of psychosis at follow-up. In Sample 2, no significant longitudinal relationships between trauma-related and psychotic symptoms were observed. In both samples, baseline disturbances in self-organization (DSO) symptoms predicted ‘classical’ PTSD symptoms at follow-up. Conclusion: This study made the first attempt to examine the longitudinal relationships among ICD-11 complex PTSD symptoms, dissociative symptoms, and psychotic symptoms. The inconsistent findings point to the importance of further research on the longitudinal relationships between trauma-related and psychotic symptoms. Moreover, our results indicate that addressing DSO symptoms may be important in the prevention and treatment of PTSD symptoms.

Civilians in war may suffer from distress not only during the peritraumatic phase, manifested in early trauma-related symptoms, but also after the trauma ends, as reflected in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Evidence has suggested that early trauma-related symptoms underlie the development of PTSD. Additionally, research has revealed relations between sensory responsiveness and both early trauma-related symptoms and PTSD, thus implying that individuals with sensory modulation difficulties may exhibit elevated symptomatology at the peritraumatic phase and may be at risk for PTSD. Nevertheless, the cross-sectional design of former studies allowed neither identifying the directionality of the relationship between sensory modulation and PTSD nor exploring the role of early trauma-related symptoms within this relationship. The current prospective study, which was aimed at bridging these knowledge gaps, was conducted among a convenience sample of Israeli adults (n = 209) during rocket attacks (T1) and 40-71 days after ceasefire (T2). Background variables, sensory modulation difficulties, early trauma-related symptoms, and PTSD symptoms were assessed online via self-report measures. Results revealed that high sensory responsiveness was related to early trauma-related symptoms and predicted PTSD symptoms of hyperarousal, intrusion, and negative alterations in mood and cognitions. Moreover, early trauma-related symptomatology mediated the relations between high sensory responsiveness and PTSD symptoms of intrusion and negative alterations in mood and cognitions. The current findings suggest that high sensory responsiveness is a risk factor for PTSD and that early trauma-related symptomatology may serve as a mechanism underlying the relationship between high sensory responsiveness and PTSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented changes in people’s lives and more specifically to the life of many students around the world. This study aims to analyse the psychological distress related with the COVID-19 outbreak in students from CamEd business school. Common factors in psychological distress in students during the COVID-19 pandemic where analyzed in a literature review and used as focus to further understand psychological distress in this studies participants. Psychological distress and trauma symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic of 319 respondents where measured by the SRQ-20 and the IES-R. Scores on psychological distressed where compared between genders and the factors ‘amount of COVID-19 related media consumption’ and ‘levels of (self)-isolation’ where tested for correlation with psychological distress. This study found relatively high levels of distress and trauma related symptoms in this population. 51.4% of the participants reported levels of distress that brings them at risk for mental health disorders and 50.5% reported levels of trauma related symptoms bringing them at risk for PTSD. Further analysis showed that trauma related symptoms account for 36.7% of the variance in psychological distress. There was a significantly higher amount of psychological distress in females compared with males. The factors ‘amount of COVID-19 related media consumption’ and ‘levels of (self)-isolation’ did not show any correlation with psychological distress in this study. Limitations and implications of these findings are discussed. Factors in psychological distress for this specific population needs further research. General interventions and supportive measures for at risk students are discussed.

Background: The prevalence of trauma-related disorders in Türkiye is higher than in high-income countries due to an increased likelihood of exposure to traumatic events. Türkiye's high prevalence of trauma-related disorders underscores the need for validated tools to screen for trauma-related symptoms. The Global Psychotrauma Screen (GPS) is a newly developed, brief instrument designed to screen for transdiagnostic trauma-related symptoms and risk factors. However, its validity in Turkish populations has yet to be established. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the GPS in a general population sample from Türkiye. Methods: The Turkish version of the GPS was administered digitally to 499 individuals (36.3% male, 63.7% female) aged 18 to 74 years (mean ± SD = 24.58 ± 9.26). Psychometric analyses included exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency, reliability, clinical validity, and convergent-divergent validity. Specific statistical tests such as Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency and confirmatory factor analysis for validity were conducted. Convergent-divergent validity was assessed using correlations with other established measures of trauma symptoms, such as the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Checklist (PCL). Linear regression examined associations between risk factors and trauma-related symptoms. Results: Exploratory factor analysis indicated a single-factor structure for trauma-related symptoms. The GPS showed strong internal consistency (α = 0.87) and reliability. Clinical validity was moderate with cut-off scores of 3 for probable PTSD and 2 for depression and anxiety. These cut-off scores resulted in high sensitivity but low specificity. Risk factors such as low social support, childhood trauma, a history of mental illness, and exposure to other stressful events were significantly associated with higher GPS symptoms. The convergent validity analysis indicated a significant correlation with the PTSD Checklist (PCL), showing convergence (r = 0.48, P < .01). Conclusion: The Turkish version of the GPS is a valid and reliable screening tool for trauma-related symptoms and provides a quick and efficient screening process. However, clinical interviews are recommended following GPS screening to confirm diagnoses. These findings support the Turkish GPS as a rapid and culturally adaptable screening tool for trauma-related symptoms, although confirmatory clinical interviews remain essential for diagnosis. These findings support the applicability of GPS across diverse cultural contexts. Further studies are needed to explore its psychometric properties in other regions and languages.

Background People with mental illness have higher smoking prevalence, and vaping is generally higher among smokers than non-smokers. However, data on associations of mental illness with smoking and vaping in New Zealand (NZ) is lacking. This study examines associations of history of mental illness (HMI) with smoking and vaping in NZ university students. Methods Data came from a March 2018 national cross-sectional study. χ2 tests compared patterns of smoking and vaping in students with and without HMI. An HMI was defined as a diagnosis, or treatment for depression, anxiety or nervous disorder, or other mental health condition in the previous 12 months. Logistic regression model assessed the association of an HMI with smoking and vaping. Results 1622 students were included: 82.7% aged &amp;lt;25 years, 17.3% ≥25 years; 38.6% male, 61.4% female; 7.8% Māori, 92.2% non-Māori; 18.1% reported an HMI. Of respondents, 50.5% (95% CI 48.0-53.0) reported ever, 10.0% (8.6-11.6) current and 5.0% (4.0-6.2) daily smoking. Students with HMI were significantly more likely to report ever (p&amp;lt;.001), current (p=.008) and daily smoking (p=.014) than those without HMI. 36.7% (34.3-39.1) of students reported ever, 6.7% (5.5-8.0) current and 2.5% (1.8-3.4) daily vaping. Students with HMI were significantly more likely to report ever (p&amp;lt;.001), current (p=.002) and daily vaping (p=.022) than those without HMI. The full model containing all predictors was statistically significant, χ2 (5, N = 1621) = 34.843, p &amp;lt; .001. Female gender: OR 0.55 (0.41-0.73); current smoking: OR 1.76 (1.19-2.60), and current vaping: OR 2.07 (1.32-3.25) were significantly associated with an HMI. Conclusions There were strong associations between an HMI and smoking and vaping (controlling for age, gender, ethnicity). These findings extend earlier work on the relationship between smoking and mental illness by demonstrating similar associations in university students, and generate new information on HMI and vaping. Key messages Significant numbers of students may have an HMI. Students with an HMI have higher prevalence of smoking and vaping than students without an HMI.

A significant number of postpartum mothers are at risk of experiencing perinatal mental health (PMH) due to various factors. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for PMH issues and explore the current implementation of early screening for PMH in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. A mixed-method study, cross-sectional and ethnographic approach, was conducted at Babakan Public Health Center, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, from July to August 2023. A cross-sectional study involved 33 postpartum mothers and analyzed seven potential risk factors: age, parity, age at marriage, type of childbirth, type of family, history of adolescent mental disorder, and history of mental disorder during pregnancy. An ethnographic approach, using in-depth interviews, was utilized to gain insights regarding the implementation of PMH screening, included seven healthcare workers: six midwives and one nurse. Among the seven risk factors analyzed, only a history of adolescent mental disorder acted as risk for high PMH with an odds ratio (OR) 1.17 and p=0.03. In-depth interviews revealed a consistent lack of understanding among all healthcare workers regarding PMH screening implementation: absence of early screening, lack of knowledge regarding PMH and how to identify them, reliance solely on subjective assessments for early screening, and a lack of standardized adequate PMH management. In conclusion, the history of adolescent mental disorder could lead to the development of PMH in postpartum mothers. Current screening implementation is still lacking among healthcare workers and public health centers. Therefore, integrating various stakeholders in early PMH screening is crucial to prevent future PMH in mothers and babies.

Prevalence and correlates of dissociative symptoms among people with depression

This study aimed to explore the relationship between the experience of abuse and depressive symptoms among children and adolescents in a post-conflict setting while controlling for perceived support and individual background factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the post-conflict setting of Borama, Somaliland. A total of 645 adolescents that attended upper primary and lower secondary schools were included. The exposure variables were (a) experience of physical abuse, (b) experience of psychological abuse, and (c) experience of either or both forms of abuse. The outcome was depressive symptoms as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Physical and psychological abuse were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms (B = 2.74, p &lt; 0.001 and B = 1.62, p &lt; 0.001, respectively). The girls had higher levels of depressive symptoms than the boys (B = 0.71, p = 0.004). Moreover, a greater age was associated with higher levels of symptoms (B = 0.17, p = 0.033). Higher social support levels were associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms (B = −0.08, p = 0.001). Our findings suggest that interventions providing social support to adolescents who experience abuse may be beneficial in reducing depressive symptoms.

To assess the association between trajectories of comorbid anxiety and depressive (CAD) symptoms assessed in each pregnancy trimester and physiological birth. Large longitudinal prospective cohort study with recruitment between January 2013 and September 2014. Primary care, in the Netherlands. Dutch-speaking pregnant women with gestational age at birth ≥37 weeks, and without multiple pregnancy, severe psychiatric disorder or chronic disease history. Pregnancy-specific anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured prospectively in each trimester of pregnancy using the negative affect subscale of the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale and Edinburgh (Postnatal) Depression Scale. Data on physiological birth were obtained from obstetric records. Multivariate growth mixture modelling was performed in MPLUS to determine longitudinal trajectories of CAD symptoms. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between trajectories and physiological birth. Trajectories of CAD symptoms and physiological birth. Seven trajectories (classes) of CAD symptoms were identified in 1682 women and subsequently merged into three groups: group 1-persistently low levels of symptoms (reference class 1; 79.0%), group 2-intermittently high levels of symptoms (classes 3, 6 and 7; 11.2%), and group 3-persistently high levels of symptoms (classes 2, 4 and 5; 9.8%). Persistently high levels of CAD symptoms (group 3) were associated with a lower likelihood of physiological birth (odds ratio 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.47-0.95, P=0.027) compared with the reference group (persistently low levels of symptoms), after adjusting for confounders. This study is the first showing evidence that persistently high CAD levels, assessed in each pregnancy trimester, are associated with a lower likelihood of physiological birth.

Background: Child abuse (CA) has diverse long-term negative outcomes, including trauma-related disorders such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). Evidence suggests that CA may also result in sensory modulation dysfunction, which is related to posttraumatic distress. However, previous research has primarily explored the relationship between sensory modulation and PTSD, without examining the role of sensory modulation in both PTSD and CPTSD. Objective: This study aimed to bridge this knowledge gap by exploring (1) sensory modulation response patterns as a function of a history of CA; (2) the relationships between sensory modulation, PTSD, and disturbances in self-organization (DSO) in CA survivors; and (3) The role of sensory modulation response patterns in the likelihood of being diagnosed with PTSD or CPTSD. Method: An online survey was conducted among a convenience sample of Israeli female adults (n = 426), including 288 (67.6%) CA survivors and 138 (32.4%) participants without a history of CA. Background variables, abuse features, sensory modulation, and PTSD and CPTSD symptoms were assessed via self-report measures. Results: CA survivors exhibited higher scores for high sensory responsiveness and a greater proportion of sensory over-responsiveness (SOR) (Mdn = 2.00, p ^ = 31.6%) compared to participants without a history of CA (Mdn = 1.74, p ^ = 12.3%). High sensory responsiveness was associated with both PTSD symptoms and disturbances in self-organization (DSO) symptoms (r > 0.15, p < .01). Furthermore, SOR was significantly associated with the likelihood of receiving either PTSD or CPTSD classifications ( β ^ = 0.96 , OR = 2.6 , p < .001 ). In the presence of SOR, the gap in the predicted probabilities for the two diagnoses doubled on average across all combinations of abuse features. Conclusion: These findings suggest that high responsiveness to sensory stimuli may be related not only to PTSD but also to the profound and enduring effects of CA, as reflected in CPTSD.

Glucocorticoid Receptor Pathway Components Predict Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Development: A Prospective Study

Childhood sexual abuse, attachment, and trauma symptoms in college females: The moderating role of attachment

These data are internally consistent and lead to several conclusions, as follows: Elevated levels of psychiatric symptoms were found among IDUs in methadone treatment as compared to their counterparts who were out of treatment. IVDUs who entered treatment had higher symptom levels than those who did not enter treatment. Higher symptom levels were found among injectors than noninjectors, and needle sharers had especially high psychiatric symptom levels. Higher symptom levels were found among those who seroconverted in the 6 months following notification, but not thereafter. Symptom levels did not distinguish between HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals 24 months following notification of seropositivity. Taken together, these findings indicate that elevated psychiatric symptoms are risk factors for continued high risk behavior, as well as for seroconversion. The data add to those of Brooner and colleagues (1993), who demonstrated that ASPD serves as a risk factor for HIV infection. The fact that antisocial personality disorder and psychiatric severity are associated with risky behavior and with actual HIV infection further expands earlier findings showing that these two factors are associated with poorer treatment outcome. Other axis II disorders (e.g., borderline or narcissistic), as well as other axis I disorders with high symptom levels that were not well represented in these studies (schizophrenia, manic depressive illness), may also show similar elevated rates of risky behavior and seroconversion, although there is a scarcity of data currently available to assess the risk behavior of these patients. The evidence from treatment studies that psychiatrically focused therapies, when combined with substance abuse treatment, can improve overall outcome for patients with clinically significant levels of psychiatric symptoms may be relevant in the design of future risk reduction efforts. That is, these treatment outcome studies may serve as a starting point for exploring the feasibility and efficacy of using psychiatrically focused treatment to reduce risky behavior and HIV infection among psychiatrically symptomatic IDUs.

Natural disasters negatively affect children's emotional and behavioral adjustment. Although treatments to reduce psychological morbidity following disasters are needed, it has been difficult to conduct treatment research in postdisaster environments because of the sensitivity of victims to perceived intrusiveness and exploitation. To evaluate the efficacy of a public health--inspired intervention combining school-based screening and psychosocial treatment to identify and treat children with persistent disaster-related trauma symptoms. To identify children with continued high levels of trauma-related symptoms 2 years after a major disaster, we conducted a community-wide school-based screening of disaster-exposed public elementary school children. Children with the highest levels of trauma-related symptoms were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 consecutively treated cohorts. Children in the cohorts awaiting treatment served as wait-list controls. Within each cohort, children were randomly assigned to either individual or group treatment to allow comparison of the efficacy of the 2 treatment modalities. All 10 public elementary schools on the island of Kauai (one of the Hawaiian Islands) 2 years after Hurricane Iniki. All 4258 children in second through sixth grade were screened. The 248 children with the highest levels of psychological trauma symptoms were selected for treatment. Children were randomly assigned to either individual or group treatment provided by specially trained school-based counselors. Treatment comprised 4 sessions. The Kauai Reaction Inventory, a self-report measure of trauma symptoms, and the Child Reaction Inventory, a semistructured clinical interview for posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. After treatment, children reported significant reductions in self-reported trauma-related symptoms. This symptom reduction was maintained at the 1-year follow-up. Clinical interviews also indicated that treated children had fewer trauma symptoms compared with untreated children. School-based community-wide screening followed by psychosocial intervention seems to effectively identify and reduce children's disaster-related trauma symptoms and may facilitate psychological recovery. While group and individual treatments did not differ in efficacy, fewer children dropped out of the group treatment. This approach may be applicable to screening and treating children exposed to a variety of large-scale disasters.