Posttraumatic Symptomatology Research Articles

Examining the Relationship Between Firearm Violence Exposure and Posttraumatic Symptomatology in Adolescents: A Scoping Review

Firearm-related violence is the leading cause of death for adolescents and can have lifelong ramifications, including to one’s mental health and well-being. Through a scoping review of existing literature published since 1980, the current study describes nuanced pathways through which exposure to firearm violence (direct or indirect) can contribute to the development and exacerbation of posttraumatic symptomatology during adolescence (ages 10–19). Furthermore, this review explores moderators and mediators of this relationship, shedding light on the interplay between individual, familial, and societal factors. Findings from the reviewed studies ( N = 16) demonstrate various links between direct and indirect firearm exposure and short- and long-term posttraumatic symptomatology in adolescents and point to necessary solutions that encompass consistent firearm violence prevention and mental health support. Results can inform future research, policy development, and intervention strategies to mitigate the adverse psychological effects of firearm violence on the vulnerable adolescent population.

Microbiome signature of posttraumatic stress disorder and resilience in youth.

Identifying biomarkers that can distinguish trauma-exposed youth at risk for developing posttraumatic pathology from resilient individuals is essential for targeted interventions. As trauma can alter the microbiome with lasting effects on the host, our longitudinal, multimeasure, cross-species study aimed to identify the microbial signature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We followed children exposed to war-related trauma and matched controls from early childhood (Mage = 2.76 years, N = 232) to adolescence (Mage = 16.13 years, N = 84), repeatedly assessing posttraumatic symptomatology and maternal caregiving. In late adolescence, we collected fecal samples from mothers and youth and assessed microbiome composition, diversity, and mother-child microbial synchrony. We then transplanted adolescents' fecal samples into germ-free mice to determine if behavioral changes are observed. Youth with PTSD exhibited a distinct gut microbiome profile and lower diversity compared to resilient individuals, and microbiome diversity mediated the continuity of posttraumatic symptomatology throughout development. Low microbiome diversity correlated with more posttraumatic symptoms in early childhood, more emotional and behavioral problems in adolescence, and poor maternal caregiving. Youth with PTSD demonstrated less mother-child microbial synchrony, suggesting that low microbial concordance between mother and child may indicate susceptibility to posttraumatic illness. Germ-free mice transplanted with microbiomes from individuals with PTSD displayed increased anxious behavior. Our findings provide evidence that the trauma-associated microbiome profile is at least partially responsible for the anxiety component of the PTSD phenotype and highlight microbial underpinnings of resilience. Further, our results suggest that the microbiome may serve as additional biological memory of early life stress and underscore the potential for microbiome-related diagnosis and treatment following trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The relation between peritraumatic dissociation and coping strategies: A network analysis.

Peritraumatic dissociation (PD) and coping strategies (CS) around the time of trauma are significant predictors of acute and long-term posttraumatic symptomatology (PTS), but it is unclear how they relate to each other. The aim of this study was to examine their association using a nationwide, representative sample following the September 11 attacks in the United States (N = 3,134). We used exploratory and confirmatory network analyses to estimate reliable associations between PD and CS, as well as looking at those variables as predictors of PTS at 2, 6, and 12 months after the attack. Analyses showed that: (a) PD formed 3 factors (alterations of consciousness, depersonalization, and compartmentalization) distinct from coping strategies; (b) PD related only to some CS; (c) coping through denial had a particularly strong link to alterations of consciousness among adults. Both altered consciousness and denial predicted PTS significantly 2, 6, and 12 months after the attack, with altered consciousness being the stronger predictor (and a better predictor of PTS than other types of PD). For teens, the only significant link between PD and CS was for compartmentalization and substance abuse. PD and CS were related in adults and contributed independently to later PTS. Future research should evaluate longitudinally the interactions between specific types of PD and CS. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychological intervention in women victims of childhood sexual abuse: a randomized controlled clinical trial comparing EMDR psychotherapy and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.

Childhood sexual abuse persists as a painful societal reality, necessitating responses from institutions and healthcare professionals to prevent and address its severe long-term consequences in victims. This study implements an intervention comprising two psychotherapeutic approaches recommended by the WHO and international clinical guidelines for addressing short-, medium-, and long-term posttraumatic symptomatology: Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Both approaches are adapted from group formats for implementation in small online groups via Zoom. The impact of both therapeutic approaches on trauma improvement was assessed in a sample of 19 women who were victims of childhood sexual abuse through a Randomized Clinical Trial comparing EMDR Psychotherapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy after a baseline period. Intra and inter comparison were made using statistics appropriate to the sample. Both therapeutic approaches significantly reduced symptomatology across various evaluated variables, suggesting their efficacy in improving the quality of life for these individuals. Following CBT-FT treatment, patients exhibited enhanced emotional regulation, reduced reexperiencing, and avoidance. The EMDR group, utilizing the G-TEP group protocol, significantly improved dissociation, along with other crucial clinical variables and the perception of quality of life. Although the limitations of this study must be taken into account due to the size of the sample and the lack of long-term follow-up, the results align with existing scientific literature, underscoring the benefits of trauma-focused psychological treatments. The online group format appears promising for enhancing the accessibility of psychological treatment for these women. Furthermore, the differential outcomes of each treatment support recent research advocating for the inclusion of both approaches for individuals with trauma-related symptomatology. The study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Valencian International University (VIU) (Valencia, Spain) (Ref. CEID2021_07). The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated to the scientific community. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04813224, identifier NCT04813224.

What to think or how to think – is symptom reduction in posttraumatic symptomatology associated with change in posttraumatic cognitions or perseverative thinking? A latent change score model approach

Objective Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) report changes in what they think of the world and themselves, referred to as posttraumatic cognitions, and changes in how they think, reflected in increased perseverative thinking. We investigated whether pre–post therapy changes in the two aspects of thinking were associated with pre–post therapy changes in posttraumatic symptom severity. Method 219 d clinic patients with posttraumatic stress symptoms received trauma-focused psychotherapy with cognitive behavioral and metacognitive elements. The posttraumatic cognitions inventory (PTCI), the perseverative thinking questionnaire (PTQ), and the Davidson trauma scale (DTS) were applied at two occasions, pre- and post-therapy. Using latent change score models, we investigated whether change in PTCI and change in PTQ were associated with change in DTS and its subscales. We then compared the predictive value of PTQ and PTCI in joint models. Results When jointly modeled, change in overall DTS score was associated with change in both PTCI and PTQ. Concerning DTS subscales, reexperiencing and avoidance were significantly associated with change in PTCI, but not in PTQ. Conclusion Results indicate that both aspects of cognition may be valuable targets of psychotherapy. A focus on posttraumatic cognitions might be called for in patients with severe reexperiencing and avoidance.

Posttraumatic symptomatology, meaning in life, and perceived family functioning in nonclinical trauma-exposed university students.

This study aims to explore and analyze the associations among posttraumatic symptoms, meaning in life dimensions, and perceived family functioning in trauma-exposed university students. Participants (N = 158) answered a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Posttraumatic Stress Global Assessment (Crespo et al., 2017), the Purpose in Life Test (Crumbaugh & Maholick, 1969), and the Family APGAR (Smilkstein, 1978). Outcomes indicated several negative associations between posttraumatic symptoms and both meaning in life and family functioning areas. These findings suggest family functioning and meaning-in-life clinical practical relevance concerning the assessment, prevention, and intervention in persons affected by trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Effets médiateurs de la symptomatologie de stress post-traumatique et des symptômes de dissociation somatoforme sur la relation entre l’attachement et la qualité de vie liée à la santé après un infarctus du myocarde

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a particularly frequent coronary disease: the number of new cases of MI recorded each year amounts to nearly 90,000 in France and nearly 790,000 in the United States. Over the past 15 years, the number of people who can survive this major cardiac event has substantially increased, as a result of advances in medical treatment and a reduction in delay to intervention. However, patients often report a decrease in their health-related quality of life following myocardial infarction. In other words, some patients perceive that the disease negatively affects various aspects of their daily lives, including physical functioning, emotional state, social relationships, and overall well-being. Furthermore, studies have shown that health-related quality of life is a prognostic indicator of the evolution of patients’ health status: the more health-related quality of life is reduced, the greater the risk of all-cause mortality, recurrence of cardiovascular events, and re-hospitalization for heart disease. In view of these elements, the identification of potentially modifiable factors, and in particular psychological factors, having an impact on health-related quality of life is particularly relevant. More specifically, insecure attachment, post-traumatic stress symptomatology and somatoform dissociation symptoms could have an impact on the health related-quality of life of people who have experienced a major cardiac event. ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to investigate the mediating role of posttraumatic stress symptoms and somatoform dissociative symptomatology in the relationship between insecure attachment and health related-quality of life after a myocardial infarction. Materials and methodsA total of 73 participants, having suffered a myocardial infarction and participating in a cardiovascular rehabilitation program, completed questionnaires to assess the degree of insecurity of their attachment (Experiences in Close Relationship Scale-12; ECR-12), the severity of post-traumatic stress symptoms (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Scale; PCL-5) and somatoform dissociation symptoms (Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire; SDQ-20), and their health related-quality of life (MacNew Heart Disease-Health Related Quality of Life; MacNew). Mediation analyses were conducted according to the recommendations formulated by Baron and Kenny. ResultsOur results showed that only anxious attachment was positively and significantly associated with the severity of posttraumatic stress symptomatology, whereas such a link was not observed for avoidant attachment. The importance of posttraumatic symptomatology fully explained why individuals with high levels of fear of abandonment also have the poorest emotional, physical, and social quality of life after myocardial infarction. The importance of dissociative somatoform symptomatology partially explained why individuals with an insecure attachment style characterized by a high level of abandonmen were also those with the poorest health-related quality of life following myocardial infarction. ConclusionsThe results of this study tend to demonstrate the importance of taking into account the specificities of attachment, posttraumatic stress symptoms and somatoform dissociation phenomena in the context of interventions aimed at improving the health related-quality of life of people after a myocardial infarction. Insofar as secure attachment appears to be a protective factor against the risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder, a psychotherapeutic approach aimed at promoting this form of attachment seems to be well justified. Specifically, it may be helpful to provide patients with a psychotherapeutic framework that takes into account their attachment experiences to allow them to change their beliefs about themselves and others, while helping them develop coping strategies appropriate to the stress. Psychotherapeutic interventions aimed jointly at increasing of the degree of attachment security and reducing the symptoms of posttraumatic stress and somatoform dissociation could be relevant to improve the health-related quality of life after a myocardial infarction.

Les conséquences du rôle de juré d’assises sur la santé mentale : état des lieux et préconisations

Jury duty, as exceptional as it is, is not without consequences for mental health. Indeed, during this assignment, randomly selected citizens are called on to judge people accused of criminal acts, to decide on their guilt and, if necessary, on their sentence. Thus, in court trials, the juror's voice will count just as that of the professional judges who sit with them. However, this enormous responsibility and the imperative aspect of jury duty can cause significant stress, especially when we consider that very often, jurors only have a limited knowledge of the judicial system. Also, being exposed to various types of evidence and to serious facts can be trying. Finally, the various obligations jurors have to meet can accentuate the difficulty of this duty, for example, the fact that, because the procedure is subject to sanctions, the jurors cannot discuss the case with others and must respect the secrecy of deliberations, even after the judgment has been rendered. For all these reasons, and also sometimes because of pre-existing individual vulnerabilities, the jury duty experience can lead to a variety of psychological difficulties, difficulties that are still not sufficiently taken into account. Although several forms of care are emerging today, such treatments remain varied and unequally available throughout the country. This article has multiple purposes. First, it aims to enumerate the possible consequences of jury duty on mental health, then, to present an inventory of what is actually available in terms of care in France. Finally, this inventory leads us to the possible intervention in several stages which could be made available to jurors, thereby offering a comprehensive and generalized support. A review of French and international literature was carried out, highlighting the main consequences of jury duty on mental health and the emergence of care systems, particularly in North America and France. Several studies stress the impact of jury duty on mental health, particularly in terms of stress, anxiety disorder and/or post-traumatic symptomatology. While support systems have emerged particularly in Canada, some have also gradually begun to be put in place in France, but they differ from one area to another, and they are not systematically made available. Some of them focus exclusively on post-trial support, while others also offer an upstream prevention phase. Finally, in terms of evaluation, the effectiveness of those interventions is estimated only by the participant's satisfaction, without any systematization or assurance of the real effectiveness of these interventions. Considering the available data in the literature and the various existing support systems, a proposal for a system of generalized support to jurors has been put forth in order to argue in favor of the adoption of this type of care. Indeed, in addition to a post-trial intervention, it seems important to plan for a phase of pre-trial prevention and the presentation of a treatment protocol, before the actual trial begins. Particularly, this should encourage jurors to more willingly take part in the post-trial intervention should signs of stress and anxiety emerge. Finally, it appears necessary to systematize the evaluation of the effectiveness of those support systems other than simply in terms of the satisfaction of the participants.

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) and suicide risk: A multigroup mediation analysis exploring the role of post-traumatic symptomatology on hopelessness

Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) is a clinical condition that features not only PTSD symptoms, but also disturbances in self-organization. Patients with cPTSD have a higher incidence of psychiatric comorbidities, including suicidality. A key construct tightly related to suicidality is hopelessness, described as a feeling of despair, with a state of mind giving low or negative expectancies regarding one's future. Since there is a paucity of studies investigating the link between cPTSD and hopelessness as a risk factor for suicidality, the aim of this study was to examine the role of post-traumatic symptomatology as the primary driver of suicidality, as measured by hopelessness.211 patients were enrolled and divided into two groups: PTSD (143 patients) and cPTSD (78 patients). A set of standardized measures was administered to study post-traumatic symptomatology, depression, and hopelessness.The results showed that compared to PTSD, cPTSD patients experienced more severe symptoms in all clinical outcomes (p < 0.001). The mediation analysis revealed a significant positive association between post-traumatic symptomatology and hopelessness in the cPTSD group, which was not significant in the PTSD group. Among PTSD patients, depression mediated 43.37% of the impact of post-traumatic symptomatology on suicidal ideation.Our results contribute to a better understanding of complex post-traumatic symptomatology, further highlighting its role in the pathogenesis of suicidality. Hence, these findings have important clinical implications, suggesting that targeted, trauma-focused interventions might effectively prevent hopelessness and therefore suicide risk in patients with cPTSD.

Impact of Traumatic Events on Substance Use among Internally Displaced People in Selected Flood and War Impacted Areas in Rivers State

Background: Different individuals react differently to emotionally traumatic events just as there are varying degrees of coping mechanisms. One of the common maladaptive coping mechanisms of victims of internal displacement is increased predisposition to substance use. Aim: This study determined the relationship between stressful life events and substance use among victims of flood and wars in selected parts of Rivers State. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 4 different flood and war impacted areas where 357 respondents were investigated. Ethical procedures were followed including consent from participants. Respondents of between the ages 10-75 years were included in the study and their socio-demographic characteristics determined. The Impact of Event Scale –Revised (IES-R) was used to assess posttraumatic symptomatology of the flood victims, while the CAGE and a semi-structured questionnaire were used to assess alcohol and other psychoactive substances. Rapid urine drug toxicology was done for the respondents. Data was analysed using the SPSS version 20. p≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Two hundred and eighty (79.6%) respondents had IES-R score of 22 and above while 65.3% (n=233) scored 33 and above. Prevalence of substance use was 34.4% (n=123) from self-report and 41.7% (n=149) from urine toxicology. Of the 149 respondents, 138 was among those who scored IES-R 22 and above while 11 was among those who scored below 22 (p=0.001). Alcohol was the most consumed drug with 22.65 (n=81), followed by cannabis with 18.8% (n=67), tramadol 16.5% (n=59), codeine 15.7% (n=56), Nicotine 14.8% (n=53), kolanut and khatchewing 6.4% (n=23), and benzodiazepam 12.8% (n=64). Polysubstance use was 34.17% (n=122). Three respondents use drug intravenously. Substance use significantly correlated with IES-R scores (p=0.002). Conclusion: Stressful and traumatic events may increase vulnerability to substance use, therefore Internally Displaced People (IDP) may require substance use disorder services and psychological care.

Enjoying the violence of war: Association with posttraumatic symptomatology in U.S. combat veterans.

Engaging in war-related violence can have a devastating impact on military personnel, with research suggesting that injuring or killing others can contribute to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and moral injury. However, there is also evidence that perpetrating violence in war can become pleasurable to a substantial number of combatants and that developing this "appetitive" form of aggression can diminish PTSD severity. Secondary analyses were conducted on data from a study of moral injury in U.S., Iraq, and Afghanistan combat veterans, to examine the impact of recognizing that one enjoyed war-related violence on outcomes of PTSD, depression, and trauma-related guilt. Three multiple regression models evaluated the impact of endorsing the item, "I came to realize during the war that I enjoyed violence" on PTSD, depression, and trauma-related guilt, after controlling for age, gender, and combat exposure. Results indicated that enjoying violence was positively associated with PTSD, β (SE) = 15.86 (3.02), p < .001, depression, β (SE) = 5.41 (0.98), p < .001, and guilt, β (SE) = 0.20 (0.08), p < .05. Enjoying violence moderated the relationship between combat exposure and PTSD symptoms, β (SE) = -0.28 (0.15), p < .05, such that there was a decrease in the strength of the relationship between combat exposure and PTSD in the presence of endorsing having enjoyed violence. Implications for understanding the impact of combat experiences on postdeployment adjustment, and for applying this understanding to effectively treating posttraumatic symptomatology, are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Relation between Neonatal Intensive Care Units and Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after Cesarean Section.

The experience of a neonate hospitalized in the NICU is an understandably traumatic experience for parents, especially for the mothers of neonates. This mental distress resulting from preterm birth and/or NICU hospitalization can be understood as post-traumatic symptomatology, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5 version). The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the admission of a neonate to the NICU (forany reason) on the development of postpartum PTSD in a sample of women after cesarean section. A total of 469 women who gave birth with cesarean section from July 2019 to June 2020 participated in this study out of the original sample of 490 women who consented to participate. Data were obtained from the researcher's socio-demographic questionnaire and the post-traumatic stress checklist (PCL-5) from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DCM-5 version. In total,11.7% of the sample experienced postpartum PTSD. There is a strong relationship between the inclusion of a neonate to the NICU due to perinatal stress, breathing difficulties, infections, and IUGR with postpartum PTSD (37.7%) in relation to the perinatal stress Criterion A (fear for the life of the neonate), the first criterion of postpartum PTSD. Additional measures must be taken for mothers of children who have been admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with psychological support interventions and a reassessment of their mental state.

It’s all in the hair: Changes in hair cortisol concentrations in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic predicts post-traumatic stress symptoms in children

About 25 to 35% of victims of a traumatic event will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Low cortisol levels appear to be a risk factor for the development of PTSD. In adults, decreased diurnal and cumulative cortisol levels before or shortly after a traumatic event are associated with increased post-traumatic symptoms in the months thereafter. In contrast, results from the only two studies conducted in children showed that elevated diurnal cortisol levels shortly after exposure to a traumatic event are associated with more severe post-traumatic symptomatology. Given that a pandemic can induce post-traumatic stress symptoms, we investigated whether cumulative cortisol levels prior to and in the beginning stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec (Canada) predicted post-traumatic stress symptoms in children. We collected hair samples from 69 children (8-12 y/o) without history of psychopathology and exposure to a traumatic event. Cortisol levels were measured before (December 2019 - February 2020) and at the beginning of the pandemic (March 2020 - May 2020). Post-traumatic stress symptoms were assessed every 3 months between June 2020 (T1) and March 2021 (T4). The results showed that the percentage change in cumulative cortisol levels between the beginning of and prior to the pandemic predicted post-traumatic stress symptoms at T1. Specifically, a decrease in cortisol levels early in the pandemic was associated with increased post-traumatic stress symptoms. This study suggests that a decrease in cortisol in response to a stressful event may be a predisposing factor for PTSD in children.

Various types of stress and greater use of disengagement coping are associated with worse sleep disturbance in oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Various types of stress and the choice of coping strategies may be risk factors for higher levels of sleep disturbance in oncology patients. Purposes were to evaluate for differences in global, cancer-specific, and cumulative life stress, as well as resilience and the use of coping strategies among three subgroups of patients with distinct sleep disturbance profiles (i.e., Low, High, Very High). Oncology outpatients (n=1331) completed measures of global (Perceived Stress Scale), cancer-specific (Impact of Event Scale-Revised), and cumulative life (Life Stressor Checklist-Revised) stress, resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale) and coping (Brief Cope) prior to their second or third cycle of chemotherapy. Sleep disturbance was assessed six times over two chemotherapy cycles. Differences were evaluated using parametric and non-parametric tests. All stress measures showed a dose response effect (i.e., as the sleep disturbance profile worsened, levels of all types of stress increased). Compared to Low class, the other two classes reported higher levels of global perceived stress and higher occurrence rates and effect from previous stressful life events. Impact of Event Scale-Revised scores for the Very High class indicated post-traumatic symptomatology. Patients in High and Very High classes had resilience scores below the normative score for the United States population and used a higher number of disengagement coping strategies. Our findings suggest that very high levels of sleep disturbance are associated with higher levels of various types of stress, lower levels of resilience, and higher use of disengagement coping strategies. Clinicians need to perform routine assessments and implement symptom management interventions to reduce stress and encourage the use of engagement coping strategies.

The Involvement of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Other Perinatal Factors in Postpartum PTSD After Cesarean Section.

The experience of a neonate hospitalised in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is an understandably traumatic experience for the parents, especially, for the mothers of neonates. This mental distress resulting from preterm birth and/or NICU hospitalisation can be understood as post-traumatic symptomatology, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 version. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the admission of a neonate to the NICU (from any reason) on the development of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of women after cesarean sections. A total of 469 women who gave birth with cesarean section from July 2019 to June 2020 participated in this study, from the original sample of 490 women who consented to participate. Data were obtained from the researcher's socio-demographic questionnaire, the past traumatic Life Events Checklist, the perinatal stressor Criterion A, and the Post-Traumatic Stress Checklist from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 version. A percentage of 46.64% of sample experienced postpartum PTSD. Factors associated with PTSD were placenta previa type4, abruption, bleeding (β = .07, p = .049), premature contractions (β = .08, p = .039), heavy medical history or previous gynecological history and preeclampsia (β = .08, p = .034), abnormal heart rate, premature rupture of membrane, premature contractions, infections (β = .14, p = .004), life of child in danger (β = .12, p = .025), complications involving child (β = .15, p = .002), complications involving both (child and mother) (β = .12, p = .011), traumatic cesarean section (β = .041, p < .001) and prematurity (β = .12, p = .022). Additional measures must be taken for mothers of children who have been admitted to the NICU with psychological support interventions and reassessment of their mental state.

Art-thérapies et Mineurs Non Accompagnés : indications, dispositifs et efficacités

IntroductionThe global context has resulted in an increase in migration of certain populations who seek protection and/or a hope for a better future. Whether for economic, social or political reasons, inhabitants sometimes hastily leave their country in order to find refuge elsewhere. Some minors take the path of exile alone and cross borders and seas to reach France: they then respond to the French designation of Unaccompanied Minors (MNA). Their migratory journey is long and perilous, a source of trauma. Their physical and mental health is impaired. Upon their arrival in France, they present significant post-traumatic symptomatology: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, disorders with somatic symptomatology. Psychologists and psychotherapists working with them find themselves in a complicated position with many pitfalls: the need for an interpreter, the representations of the psychologist, or even the absence of a request for support. Psychological care becomes even more complex. MethodA review of the literature indicates the effectiveness of art therapy in treating migrant children and adolescents accompanied by their families. Art therapy is particularly useful to help migrant minors to experience physical and psychological relief, to express their feelings, their emotions, to reduce their sense of isolation, to develop their creativity and to begin a process of acculturation. In this article we have chosen to present three studies that demonstrate the effects of art therapy on these accompanied migrant children. As these studies show, art therapy has many benefits for these subjects: reduction of symptoms linked to PTSD such as anxiety, depression and development, among other things, of self-esteem, self-confidence and resilience and many others. AnalysisThis study allows us to highlight the relevance of designing effective and protocolized art therapy treatment programs for unaccompanied minors. ResultsIn the case of Unaccompanied Migrant Minors, a very limited number of studies are beginning to consider art therapy as an essential part of the psychotherapeutic process for these subjects. We also present three such studies whose results complete and confirm those from studies concerning accompanied migrant children. ConclusionTo conclude, it seems that art therapy is a practice that must find its place among the essential tools of field practitioners working with Unaccompanied Minors. Working with adolescents who are in physical, administrative and psychological limbo, art therapy would make it possible to overcome certain pitfalls and open up a number of possibilities, to reinforce their resilience and to re-actualize their creative potential.

Examining the unique role of premilitary religious commitment in posttraumatic symptomatology among post-9/11 veterans.

Examining the unique role of premilitary religious commitment in posttraumatic symptomatology among post-9/11 veterans.

Enhancing Psychological Interventions for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment with Memory Influencing Drugs.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic psychiatric disease resulting from the experience or witnessing of traumatic events. Persistent PTSD symptoms impair patients' daily quality of life, jeopardizing sleep, mood, sociability, and arousal. Recommended psychological or pharmacological interventions are effective only in a small portion of patients and often lead to relapse. Thus, there is a critical need to address a lack of advancement in the treatment of PTSD. The combination of psychological interventions, aimed at facilitating the extinction of the traumatic memory, and pharmacological medications, represents a promising tool for PTSD treatment. Timely use of psychotherapy in conjunction with pharmacological treatments, rather than monotherapy, could thus determine a synergistic effect by potentiating the effects of psychological interventions. In such a scenario, drugs that modulate cognitive processes involved in the development and/or persistence of post-traumatic symptomatology could be of great help to improve the outcome of psychotherapies and patients' prognosis. The purpose of the present article is to review the current data available from clinical trials on combined pharmacological treatments with psychological interventions in PTSD therapy. An overview of findings from animal studies that prompted clinical research is also discussed.

Posttraumatic growth in psychosis: Symptoms, meaning, and coping

IntroductionResearch suggested that psychosis and mental illness-related experiences can be extremely traumatic, and that psychosis could theoretically also lead to posttraumatic growth (Mazor et al., 2019; PTG). The promotion of PTG may contribute to the treatment of people who experienced massive traumas such as people with severe mental illness (SMI). Psychotic symptoms are a common feature of SMI, and individuals who have experienced psychosis are also more likely to have been exposed to trauma and are more vulnerable to developing posttraumatic symptomatology (Ng et al., 2021). Negative symptoms such as amotivation could also contribute to the traumatic experiencing of psychosis (Mazor et al., 2016). Amotivation is specifically relevant to the possible traumatic sequelae of psychosis (Mueser et al., 2010). Alongside the adverse consequences of psychopathological symptoms is the unique outcome of coping with adversity (Tedeschi &amp; Calhoun, 1995)- PTG. Two important factors that contribute to PTG is coping self-efficacy (CSE), and meaning making (Mazor et al., 2018). We investigated the possibility of PTG in individuals with SMI, through the mediating effect of CSE and meaning making.ObjectivesRecent research has shown high rates of exposure to trauma among people with SMI, and that psychosis and mental illness-related experiences can be extremely traumatic. While some develop PTSD, it has been noted that some may also experience PTG. However, few studies have examined PTG in this population.Methods121 participants were recruited from community mental health centers and administered trauma and psychiatric questionnaires. Study protocol was approved by the University of Haifa ethics board.ResultsHigh levels of traumatic exposure were found in the sample. Furthermore, we found that people who endured psychosis can experience PTG, which was mediated by meaning making (MLQ) and CSE. Psychotic symptoms were found to be a major obstacle for PTG, whereas negative symptoms were found to have the potential to lead to PTG when mediated by meaning making and CSE.Mediation analyses for the dimensions of PANSS, MLQ total, CSE total, and PTGI total (N=121)Dependent Variable (DV)Independent variable (IV)MediatorIV to mediatorB (SE)Mediator to DVB (SE)Mediation effectB (SE)Z PTGI totalPANSSPositive symptoms totalMLQ total-0.46(0.26)0.99***(0.10)-0.46(0.27)1.71CSE total-2.08(0.89)0.28***(0.03)-0.58(0.28)PANSSNegative symptoms totalMLQ total-0.64***(.17)0.93***(0.11)-0.60(0.17)3.62***-2.06***(0.58)0.26***(0.03)-0.53(0.17)3.13**PANSSGeneral psychopathology totalMLQ total-0.64***(.12)0.96***(0.11)-0.61(0.13)4.77***-2.32***(0.43)0.27***(0.03)-0.62(0.15)4.08***Note.**p&lt;.01***p&lt;.001ConclusionsThe portrayed research provided preliminary evidence for the potential role of meaning making and CSE as mediators of PTG in the clinical, highly traumatized population of people with SMI who have experienced psychosis.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire: Psychometric Properties and Prediction of Posttraumatic Consequences during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Chilean Adults.

The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) is widely used to assess the use of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression strategies to regulate negative emotions. The present study evaluates the psychometric properties, reliability and validity of a Chilean adaptation of the ERQ in a large sample of 1543 participants aged between 18 and 87 (38% male, 62% female). The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed the expected two-factor structure and factorial invariance in relation to gender. Results also indicated adequate internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent and predictive validity in predicting posttraumatic stress symptoms and posttraumatic growth six months after the first measurement in a subsample of students exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of reappraisal was positively associated with general well-being, whereas the use of suppression was positively associated with depressive symptomatology. In terms of posttraumatic consequences, the use of reappraisal was negatively associated with posttraumatic symptomatology and positively associated with posttraumatic growth six months later; in turn, suppression was positively associated with posttraumatic symptomatology and negatively associated with posttraumatic growth six months later. This study demonstrates that the ERQ is a valid and reliable instrument to measure emotional regulation strategies in Chilean adults.