Psychological Impact Of Traumatic Events Research Articles

Trauma-Informed Professional Development: A Concept Analysis.

This study reports an analysis of the concept of trauma-informed professional development as it applies to staff nurses in health care organizations. There is an urgent need for interventions to protect staff nurses from the psychological impact of traumatic events. By integrating the principles of trauma-informed care into professional development practices, nursing professional development practitioners have a unique opportunity to support nurses and help to promote recovery from trauma-related mental health outcomes. Data were obtained from a content searching service. Walker and Avant's approach to concept analysis was used (2019). An operational definition of the concept of trauma-informed professional development as applied to staff nurses in health care organizations was developed. Potential benefits include staff nurse well-being, empowerment, resilience, and enhanced competency. Potential consequences for health care organizations include increased staff morale and retention. By applying trauma-informed professional development activities, nursing professional development practitioners can minimize negative consequences when teaching topics that could unintentionally adversely affect some participants. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(2):69-77.].

Vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue in residential care workers of traumatized children

This research comprised of 13 face-to-face semi-structured interviews with residential care workers (seven males and six females), all based within the same UK residential care organisation, offering care for adolescents aged 11 to 17 years. Interviews focussed on the psychological impact of traumatic events on staff functioning. Findings noted that participants had been exposed to varied distressing and traumatic experiences, occurring within and outside their employment. Experiences included witnessing or being a victim of physical and sexual aggression, witnessing self-injury or suicidal behaviour, and reading about neglect, abuse, self-injury, suicidal behaviour, and physical and sexual aggression from residents’ histories. When considering the psychological impact on staff, qualitative analyses identified themes of emotional distress and interpersonal discord. Furthermore, increased exposure to a young person’s traumatic experience led to endurance being prioritised over emotional wellbeing, ineffective coping, and poor sleep hygiene. A reduction in the impact of exposure to a young person’s traumatic experiences related to emotional and proactive support from others, use of effective coping, and increased knowledge and preparation into distressing events. The findings are discussed in relation to the overall impact of trauma exposure on staff, protective factors, and suggestions for staff intervention to reduce and/or remove potential impact.

Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Healthcare Workers Dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review.

Prevention of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in healthcare workers (HCWs) facing the current COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge worldwide as HCWs are likely to experience acute and chronic, often unpredictable, occupational stressors leading to PTSS. This review aims to analyze the literature to discover which topics have been focused on and what the latest developments are in managing the occupational risk of PTSS in HCWs during the current pandemic. For the purpose of this review, we searched for publications in MEDLINE/Pubmed using selected keywords. The articles were reviewed and categorized into one or more of the following categories based on their subject matter: risk assessment, risk management, occurrence rates. A total of 16 publications matched our inclusion criteria. The topics discussed were: “Risk Assessment”, “Occurrence Rates”, and “Risk Management”. Young age, low work experience, female gender, heavy workload, working in unsafe settings, and lack of training and social support were found to be predictors of PTSS. This review’s findings showed the need for urgent interventions aimed at protecting HCWs from the psychological impact of traumatic events related to the pandemic and leading to PTSS; healthcare policies need to consider preventive and management strategies toward PTSS, and the related psychic sequelae, in HCWs.

Is post-traumatic embitterment disorder a yet unknown comorbidity of anorexia nervosa?

Patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) present more frequently a personal history of traumatizing life events than they manifest a comorbid, clinically characterized, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The psychological impact of traumatic events on patients with AN may also manifest through a post-traumatic embitterment disorder (PTED). In PTED, the traumatic event is perceived as unjust and the patient’s response involves feelings of embitterment, rage, and helplessness along with repeated intrusive memories and a persistent negative change in mental well-being. Patients with AN share several psychopathological features with the clinical disturbed dimensions described in PTED. Accordingly, the comorbidity between PTED and AN needs further characterization. Moreover, specific therapeutic intervention known to improve symptoms of PTED such as cognitive-behavioral therapy based on wisdom psychology should be tested in selected patients with AN.

Psychological impact of traumatic events in rural nursing practice: An Integrative review

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to present findings from a pilot quality improvement evidence-based new nurse transition program that facilitates clinical leadership skills in novice nurses at the point of patient care at a rural critical access hospital. Descriptive data from pre- and post-intervention scores are reported, and the percent change was evaluated. Sample: Due to the solitary nature of rural nursing, new graduate nurses in rural areas need support in transitioning to their new role as registered nurses. The author designed, and pilot tested a quality improvement evidence-based new nurse transition program in a rural critical access hospital utilizing complexity science as a framework. Method: A quality improvement pilot program designed for new graduate nurses was provided at a critical access hospital in a rural Midwestern State. Data was collected using pre- and post- intervention scores on the Leadership Characteristics and Skills Assessment and TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire. Descriptive data was evaluated. Findings: Participant post- test percent change scores increased in perceptions of ability to lead but decreased in attitudes about teamwork. Observations of participant interactions in the quality improvement project suggested that the new nurses were developing new ideas, patterns and structures regarding their roles as a team member in the healthcare setting. Conclusion: In a rural midwestern critical access hospital a quality improvement leadership program that used a complexity science framework was provided to novice nurses in transition. After the program participant total mean post scores increased in perception of what makes a good leader and in the participant’s perception of their ability to lead. An overall mean score decrease in attitudes about teamwork was noted among the small group of rural novice nurses. Keywords: rural, frontier, new registered nurse graduate, transition program, complexity science, leadership

Psychological impact of traumatic events in rural nursing practice: An Integrative review

Background: Rural and remote nurses who practice in acute care often deal with traumatic injury and death in isolated practice with limited psychosocial support. The majority of research in this area has been conducted within urban nursing populations or non-nursing disciplines. Caring for others who have experienced a traumatic event may place rural and remote nurses at a greater risk of negative psychological effects over time. Purpose: This integrative review will explore the evidence related to the potential negative psychological impact of caring for those who have experienced a traumatic event in the context of rural nursing practice. Method: An integrative review of four health and social science databases was conducted using the framework by Whittemore and Knafl (2005). Main search terms included rural and remote nursing, vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, compassion fatigue, trauma, and burnout. Articles published between 2006 and 2017 were identified and critiqued based on their scientific merit and applicability to rural nursing practice. Results: Nine publications were found regarding rural and remote nurses’ exposure to traumatic events, and the potential personal and professional impact of exposure. While occupational stress was evident within rural and remote practice, there is a lack of clarity on the traumatic stressors of greatest concern. Most notable was the limited application of a rural and remote nursing lens to explore specific events linked to trauma, and the diversity of concepts used to describe the impact of these experiences. Conclusion: There are few rural or remote studies that have explored the psychological impact of caring for others who have experienced traumatic events. Further research is necessary to explore the specific psychological impact experienced by rural and remote nurses being exposed to traumatic events over time and types of programs necessary to better support them to continue in their practice.  Keywords: rural, remote, nurses, trauma, vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, compassion fatigue, burnout DOI:  https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v19i1.523&nbsp

Psychological impact of traumatic events in rural nursing practice: An Integrative review

Background: Rural and remote nurses who practice in acute care often deal with traumatic injury and death in isolated practice with limited psychosocial support. The majority of research in this area has been conducted within urban nursing populations or non-nursing disciplines. Caring for others who have experienced a traumatic event may place rural and remote nurses at a greater risk of negative psychological effects over time. Purpose: This integrative review will explore the evidence related to the potential negative psychological impact of caring for those who have experienced a traumatic event in the context of rural nursing practice. Method: An integrative review of four health and social science databases was conducted using the framework by Whittemore and Knafl (2005). Main search terms included rural and remote nursing, vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, compassion fatigue, trauma, and burnout. Articles published between 2006 and 2017 were identified and critiqued based on their scientific merit and applicability to rural nursing practice. Results: Nine publications were found regarding rural and remote nurses’ exposure to traumatic events, and the potential personal and professional impact of exposure. While occupational stress was evident within rural and remote practice, there is a lack of clarity on the traumatic stressors of greatest concern. Most notable was the limited application of a rural and remote nursing lens to explore specific events linked to trauma, and the diversity of concepts used to describe the impact of these experiences. Conclusion: There are few rural or remote studies that have explored the psychological impact of caring for others who have experienced traumatic events. Further research is necessary to explore the specific psychological impact experienced by rural and remote nurses being exposed to traumatic events over time and types of programs necessary to better support them to continue in their practice.  Keywords: rural, remote, nurses, trauma, vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, compassion fatigue, burnout DOI:  https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v19i1.523&nbsp

The Relationship Between Trauma and Clinical Outcome Variables Among Older Adults With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Stressful and traumatic life events have been implicated in the etiology and persistence of symptoms in schizophrenia, but little is known about their impact in later life. This article contrasts lifetime trauma among older persons with schizophrenia with their age peers in the general population, and examines whether greater trauma is associated with higher rates of nonremission of positive and negative symptoms, depression, or anxiety symptoms in the schizophrenia group. The schizophrenia group consisted of 198 community-dwelling persons age 55 and older who developed a schizophrenia spectrum disorder before age 45. A community comparison group (N = 113) was recruited using randomly selected block-groups. Using the Trauma and Victimization Scale, the frequency × severity of lifetime traumatic events scores were calculated. In the schizophrenia group, subjects were dichotomized into low and high trauma groups. As compared to the community group, the schizophrenia group scored significantly higher on the total score and on 6 of 11 items of the Trauma and Victimization Scale. The schizophrenia group had significantly more traumatic events before age 17. In logistic regression analysis, a high level of trauma accumulated across the lifespan in the schizophrenia group was associated only with non-remission of positive symptoms; however, the persistence of positive symptoms was not associated with a traumatic event prior to age 17. Early trauma may play some role in the development of schizophrenia, but it does not seem to have any special role in the persistence of positive symptoms in later life. Rather, accumulated stressors may be more relevant clinically. The findings suggest that it may be profitable to consider therapies that reduce the psychological impact of traumatic events.

The need for inclusion of psychological trauma in the professional curriculum: A call to action.

An appreciable disparity exists between the need for services by professionals with expertise in psychological trauma and the availability of these services. Despite the establishment of a solid base of scientific literature on trauma and the growing attunement of society and the media to the adverse psychological impact of traumatic events, this area has yet to be decisively incorporated into the core curriculum of graduate training in psychology and other professions. This paper provides an overview of the prevalence, scope, and impact of trauma in the general population and the current lack of adequate resources to address the psychological difficulties engendered by traumatic experiences. Existing models of trauma training are discussed, and strategies for expanding the availability of trauma training are recommended.

The Psychological Impact of Traumatic Events on Children

The past decade has seen accumulating research detailing the psychological consequences of a range of traumatic events upon children and young people. This paper summarizes some of the psychological consequences, including posttraumatic stress disorder, and describes the presentation and course in children. Treatment studies are reviewed and the need for further research with children involved in a range of events highlighted. In particular, there is a need to develop and evaluate early interventions and to identify factors that mediate or moderate negative consequences.

Traumatic in Israeli Youth Sample

The on-going Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a cause of exposure to traumatic events for many people in the affected area. The present study investigated the prevalence and psychological impact of traumatic events among adolescents living in the Tel Aviv-area. 494 9th and 10th grade students (M = 15.6 years) reported exposure to 20 potentially traumatizing events and distress symptoms. The findings suggest that the prevalence of traumatic events was considerable among Israeli youth. Eighty-five percent of the students had been exposed to at least one traumatic event, and the two most common events recorded were almost being injured or killed (exposed students: 45%) and war (exposed students: 44%). Exposure to multiple traumatic events, the presence of recent exposure, and a number of specific events, in particular humiliation or persecution, attempted suicide, and childhood neglect, were associated with an increase in symptomatology. However, exposure to war, terrorist attacks, and not knowing if family members/friends were alive, did not increase the level of symptomatology. The apparently limited psychological impact of exposure to war-like events is discussed.

Evaluation of Stress Debriefing Interventions with Military Populations

Military members are frequently exposed to traumatic events. In an attempt to mitigate the psychological impact of traumatic events, formal interventions, such as Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and Process Debriefing, have been developed and implemented. Through a literature review of psychological debriefing interventions in the military, several anecdotal and research-based observations are discussed. Suggestions for clinical application and programmatic research are made based on these empirical findings.

Psychological impact and prevalence of traumatic events in a student sample in Israel: the effect of multiple traumatic events and physical injury.

The prevalence of exposure and the psychological impact of traumatic events were studied in 983 Israeli university students. The psychological effects of exposure to single versus multiple traumatic events, and the effects of trauma-related physical injury were also examined. It was found that 67% of the respondents reported having been exposed to at least one traumatic event. Of those exposed, 6% were diagnosed as having posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Men were more at risk for exposure, but women were more at risk for PTSD. Women and the physically injured showed more psychological distress following exposure. Being exposed to one type of traumatic event was associated with increased psychological distress, but being exposed to multiple types of traumatic events was associated with lowering of distress. The results are discussed in comparison with similar studies from the United States.

Psychological Impact of Traumatic Events:

This paper reviews the increasing study of the psychological affects of traumatic events. The types of traumatic events which can impact individuals covered by employee assistance programs includes civilian disasters, criminal incidents, workplace accidents, and family abuse. Historical trends which outline current diagnostic and treatment issues are covered. Important symptom patterns are described, with review of the recovery issues following the immediate traumatic impact. Key intervention strategies for immediate crisis response and long-term follow-up are discussed with recommendation for comprehensive psychological trauma response. Employee assistance programs that assist individuals affected by traumatic events provide needed psychological safety net.