Traumatic Stress Research Articles

Transformative Resilience: Harnessing ICT for Trauma Recovery and Community Empowerment among Eritrean Refugees

This study investigates the effectiveness of the TRUST intervention, delivered through Information and Communication Technology (ICT), in addressing trauma and enhancing resilience among Eritrean refugees in impoverished camps. The research aims to explore whether the comprehensive TRUST program, compared to a shorter psycho-education session, can reduce traumatic stress levels and improve social and economic resilience and social capital, indicating a reduction in collective trauma. Ethical approval was obtained, and participants were randomly assigned to intervention groups. Livelihood support availability was assessed, and psychometric tests were administered before and after the intervention. Results indicate a significant decrease in traumatic stress levels and improvements in social and economic resilience among participants receiving the full TRUST intervention. Interestingly, the availability of livelihood support did not significantly impact trauma levels or associated improvements. Challenges in delivering therapy via ICT, such as connectivity issues, were identified. This study underscores the potential of ICT-enabled interventions in addressing mental health challenges in resource-constrained environments but highlights the importance of addressing connectivity issues for effective implementation.

How adverse childhood experiences impact the professional quality of life of residential care workers: resilience as a mediator for burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and compassion satisfaction

IntroductionThe well-being of trauma-affected children and youth in residential care settings is contingent upon the well-being of the workers who care for them, who are increasingly expected to provide care in a trauma-informed manner. The well-being of residential care workers (RCWs) may be impacted by their own histories of adversity, their capacity individually and collectively to navigate to resources that sustain their well-being (resilience), and current perceptions of their professional quality of life.ObjectiveThis study aimed to fill a research gap by canvassing the perspectives of RCWs to determine what and how they need to be supported in their work. We sought to better understand what personal (adverse childhood experiences, resilience) and professional (compassion satisfaction, burnout, secondary traumatic stress) experiences and capacities they bring into their work that might impact the quality of care they provide to children and youth.MethodA sample of 226 residential care workers from four residential care organizations across three Canadian provinces completed a self-report questionnaire to provide a portrait of their history of adverse childhood experiences as measured by the ACE questionnaire, which included two additional questions reflecting the more nuanced and expanded understanding of potential adversity in childhood in the Canadian context; their resilience, as measured by the Adult Resilience Measure; and compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, as measured by the Professional Quality of Life Measure. Mediation was conducted to examine whether and how resilience mediated the relationship between ACEs and professional quality of life indicators.Results(1) RCWs reported experiencing ACEs at rates much higher than general population and norm samples, especially regarding the experience of 4–5+ ACEs, known to be a threshold for increased severity in negative outcomes; (2) RCWs experienced levels of resilience and indicators of professional quality of life similar to those in other human services professions serving trauma-impacted individuals; and (3) RCW resilience significantly mediated the relationship between ACEs and compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, and had a significant total effect for the relationship between ACEs and secondary traumatic stress. These results suggest the importance of enhancing RCW resilience in multiple ways, mainly in their professional contexts. Recommendations for resilience enhancement and suggestions for future research are provided.

Stress response in tomato as influenced by repeated waterlogging.

Plants respond to water stress with a variety of physiological and biochemical changes, but their response varies among species, varieties and cultivars. Waterlogging in tomato reduces plant growth, degrade chlorophyll and increase concentration of oxidative parameters. Priming can alleviate stress in plants caused by waterlogging enabling plants to be more tolerant to an additional stress in the current or even subsequent generation. The aim of this study was to evaluate tomato genotypes for their sensitivity to waterlogging stress applied during early vegetative growth and at full flowering stage. The study included two local genotypes, Trebinjski sitni (GB1126) and Žuti (GB1129), and the reference variety Novosadski jabučar (NJ), which is the variety most commonly used in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The activity of class III peroxidase (POX), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured spectrophotometrically, and for quantification of individual phenolic compounds, targeted approach was adopted, using UHPLC/DAD/(-)HESI-MS2 instrument (Dionex UltiMate 3000 UHPLC system with a DAD detector, configured with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer TSQ Quantum Access Max (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Germany)). Oxidative parameters (H2O2 and MDA) exhibited an increase in content in leaves of tomato plants that underwent waterlogging stress compared to control plants. Moreover, oxidative parameters showed positive correlation with proteins and phenolics content. The obtained correlations can indicate that one of the response strategies of tomato plants to waterlogging is the increased synthesis of proteins and phenolic compounds. The POX activity was not correlated with other parameters except with the polyphenols. A positive correlation was shown between POX activity and the content of phenolic compounds, indicating their independent roles in the removal of ROS. Changes in the phenolic profiles after the exposure of plants to waterlogging stress are recorded, and these changes were more severe in leaves and fruits of GB1129 and NJ genotypes than in GB1126. Thus, genotype GB1126 is the most efficient in maintaining the phenolic profiles of leaves and fruits, and therefore of the nutritive and organoleptic qualities of fruits following the exposure to waterlogging. Also, genotype GB1126 exhibited the ability to maintain the content of oxidative parameters during waterlogging at certain growth stages, implying certain waterlogging tolerance. Waterlogging triggered stress memory but not at all growth stages. The most pronounced stress memory was obtained in fruit samples in the phase of full fruit maturity on the 1st truss. This study shed light on the defense mechanisms of tomato plants to repeated waterlogging stress from the perspectives of the changes in the composition of major phenolics, and pointed to the 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid and rutin as the chemical markers of the waterlogging stress tolerance in tomato. However, it remains to be determined whether this modulation has a positive or negative effect on the overall plant metabolism. Further investigations are needed to fully elucidate the benefits of waterlogging pretreatment in this context.

Psychoeducation group facilitation training for nurses: A quality improvement project.

According to the 2020-2021 National Survey of Children's Health, 23.3% of children and adolescents met criteria for one or more mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral problems. However, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder have risen dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an increase in suicidal ideations, completed suicides, and pediatric psychiatric hospitalizations. There is a critical need for high quality mental healthcare treatments, including psychoeducation. Inpatient psychiatric nurses are well positioned to lead psychoeducation groups, but few receive training. Nurses at a designated inpatient pediatric psychiatric unit expressed discomfort in facilitating psychoeducation groups. This is a one-group prepost and follow-up quality improvement study designed to improve the quality of psychoeducation group facilitation skills provided by nurses at a child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit. A convenience sample of nurses (N = 16) participated. Baseline (T1), post-test (T2), and follow-up (T3) data were collected regarding nurses' self-efficacy, evidence based-practice attitudes, and knowledge of psychoeducation group facilitation. Nurses received 45 min of psychoeducation group facilitation education and 15 min of skills simulation. The nurses' knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes toward evidence-based practice when facilitating psychoeducation groups increased significantly from the baseline to the post-test, which was sustained from the post-test to the follow-up period. Study findings indicate the importance of supporting nurses in their role of psychoeducation group facilitation through education and program structure. Further research is needed to assess longer term sustainability and efficacy in leading psychoeducation groups.

Harmony in diversity: exploring cross-linguistic, cross-cultural and multimodal dimensions of temporality within tourism discourse

Abstract This study explores temporal aspects in tourism discourse across modes, languages and cultures, focusing on translated texts in German, Italian, French, English, and Spanish. Tourism communication, a persuasive force promoting destinations, constructs authentic experiences for potential tourists. Beyond promotion, it reflects a societal practice shaping tourist identities and destination cultures. The translation of tourism texts involves considerations of cultural values and multimodal representations, seeking to transfer the unique selling proposition effectively. Existing research has analyzed trigger words, interlingual strategies, and cultural representations, but a gap exists in understanding the translation of temporal aspects. This paper investigates the multimodal representation, promotion, and transfer of temporality in tourism texts, contributing to contrastive and multimodal research in tourism communication. Key questions addressed include how elements from different modes contribute to the unique selling proposition, how the advertising message is conveyed in a multimodal coherent way, and which temporal aspects are translated and adapted in the target language. The present paper sheds light on the intricate interplay of language and image in conveying the temporal dimension of tourist experiences across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts.

The Consequences of Misdiagnosing Race-Based Trauma Response in Black Men: A Critical Examination

ABSTRACT Mental illness is a significant public health concern prevalent in America. Over one in five U.S. adults are affected, yet less than half receive treatment. Among African Americans, only one in three seek treatment with statically lower rates among Black males. Therefore, an accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate treatment, while misdiagnosis leads to stigma, discrimination, and untreated illness. This paper examines the implications of misdiagnosing trauma responses in Black men, highlighting systemic biases that impede suitable care and perpetuate negative narratives. The authors propose a conceptual framework incorporating historical trauma, discrimination, and traumatic stress reactions, emphasizing the need for cultural competence and humility. This framework involves public narratives that influence perceptions and judgments, reviewing research evidence, advocating for competent trauma assessments, community empowerment, and future research directions. This paper underscores the importance of understanding and addressing the unique challenges Black men face in mental health diagnosis and treatment.

Exploring women’s pathways to homelessness using the life history calendar1

ABSTRACT Introduction: Trauma history is a major risk factor for homelessness because of debilitating mental health and trauma symptoms that reduce a survivor’s ability to maintain healthy psychological functioning. Method: The objective of this study was to explore trauma exposure among a group of homeless mothers (N-30) using a novel data-gathering tool, the Life History Calendar (LHC). Participants completed a questionnaire consisting of several standardized scales and participated in a 90-minute LHC interview. Results: All participants (100%) reported at least one type of trauma experience in their lifetime; the majority (76.6%) reported an unstable and chaotic home environment and bullying and teasing as significant traumatic stressors. Other reported stressors included witnessing violence, intimate partner violence, grief and loss, childhood sexual abuse, physical/emotional/verbal abuse, and sexual assault. Participants completed a questionnaire that assessed psychological symptoms; 77% met the criteria for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and 42.3% endorsed severe PTSD symptoms. Conclusion: This study increases our understanding of the traumatic experiences of a group of homeless mothers by identifying critical periods in their lives when their traumas occurred. Supporting at-risk groups during these periods can play a significant role in averting their trajectory toward homelessness.

Trauma reminders and disgust: The roles of posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity, trauma type, and reminder type.

Disgust is a common emotional response to trauma but is studied less frequently than fear or other negative emotions. In laboratory settings, individuals with a history of sexual assault report more disgust following exposure to trauma reminders than those exposed to other trauma types, and people with more severe posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms typically report more disgust than those with lower symptom levels. It remains unknown whether this association is also present in ecological contexts and if these associations vary by trauma reminder type. The present sample included 80 trauma-exposed community members (PTSD: n = 39, no PTSD: n = 41) who completed up to 17 prompts per day for 3 days (2,158 total completed surveys). Multilevel models indicated that trauma reminders were associated with increased feelings of disgust, B = 0.16, SE = 0.06, p <.001, which was consistent across trauma reminder types, p <.001-p =.001. PTSD symptom severity moderated the association between trauma reminders and disgust such that it was stronger for participants with higher CAPS-5 scores, B = 0.02, SE = 0.01, p =.011. All trauma reminder types demonstrated the same pattern of moderation, ps =.003-.022, except flashbacks, p =.070. Trauma type was not a significant moderator of any trauma reminder type, ps =.193-.929. These findings suggest that trauma reminders encountered in daily life are associated with feelings of disgust. The results underscore the importance of exploring disgust as a trauma-related emotional experience among trauma survivors.

Burnout, racial trauma, and protective experiences of Black psychologists and counselors.

The present study explored rates of burnout and racial trauma among 182 Black mental health professionals (BMHPs) and utilized racial-cultural theory to explore potential protective factors against burnout and racial trauma. We collected data from 182 Black psychologists and counselors who were active mental health professionals during 2020. Descriptive statistics, multivariate analyses of variance, follow-up univariate analyses of variance, bivariate correlations, and multiple regression analyses were used. Both burnout and racial trauma were considerably higher among BMHPs than has been reported across general samples of helping professionals and across a sample of Black participants across the United States. Differences among rates of burnout and racial trauma existed across genders and specialties (i.e., counseling and psychology). Higher levels of social support and an external locus of control significantly predicted lower levels of burnout and racial trauma. In addition, higher levels of resilient coping predicted lower levels of burnout. Last, more frequent meetings with a mentor significantly predicted lower levels of racial trauma. Results from this study suggest that BMHPs may be more susceptible to burnout and race-based traumatic stress as a result of their work. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

It’s Just Too Much: Narratives of International Educators Navigating COVID-19

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to address how international educators who work with international students in the United States experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. Using secondary traumatic stress and compassion satisfaction as frameworks alongside a qualitative narrative inquiry research design, we interviewed 31 international educator participants to understand how they navigated organizational dynamics on their campuses, supported international students, and were impacted personally and professionally by the pandemic. Findings demonstrate participants’ experiences being in alignment with elements of secondary traumatic stress given institutional pressures and isolation, constant exposure to the trauma and challenges of international students that they sought to assist with, and complex immigration regulations that were constantly in flux during the pandemic. International educators’ work environment, broader professional network, satisfaction and passion in working with international students, and overall commitment to their profession served as positive mitigators to the challenges they experienced and reflected element of compassion satisfaction.

An overview of diagnostics and therapeutics using large language models.

There is an acute need for solutions to treat stress and trauma-related sequelae, and there are well-documented shortages of qualified human professionals. Artificial intelligence (AI) presents an opportunity to create advanced screening, diagnosis, and treatment solutions that relieve the burden on people and can provide just-in-time interventions. Large language models (LLMs), in particular, are promising given the role language plays in understanding and treating traumatic stress and other mental health conditions. In this article, we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art LLMs applications in diagnostic assessments, clinical note generation, and therapeutic support. We discuss the open research direction and challenges that need to be overcome to realize the full potential of deploying language models for use in clinical contexts. We highlight the need for increased representation in AI systems to ensure there are no disparities in access. Public datasets and models will help lead progress toward better models; however, privacy-preserving model training will be necessary for protecting patient data.

Unravelling The Cause and Consequences of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Comprehensive Review

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder caused by experiencing or witnessing traumatic or potentially life-threatening events, that has grown in prevalence due to global conflicts, natural disasters, and domestic violence. When a victim experiences trauma such as death or serious injury, three dimensions of PTSD develop: re-experience the event, Symptoms of trauma may include distressing memories, dreams, flashbacks, and physical distress, as well as avoidance of triggers and increased arousal. Traumatic events cause stress, which leads to a variety of psychosocial and physiological outcomes. PTSD has significant psychobiological correlates that can impair a person's daily life and be life-threatening. Given current events (for example, extended combat, terrorism, and exposure to certain environmental toxins), a significant increase in PTSD diagnoses is expected over the next decade. PTSD is a serious public health concern, necessitating the development of new paradigms and theoretical models to gain a better understanding of the condition and develop new and improved treatment interventions. therefore, understanding the specific causes of PTSD and how it affects patients is critical for both clinical practice and scientific research. To treat PTSD, nonpharmacologic interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy, antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), antianxiety medications, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics are recommended. This review of PTSD will help readers gain a better understanding of the PTSD condition and probable causes that contribute to PTSD disease and explore the influence on the patient himself after suffering from PTSD. It discusses the ways to improve the ability to recognize and treat it, appreciate the internist's role in managing it, and help to enhance the quality of life of people suffering from PTSD.

Conceptualizing disparities and differences in the psychobiology of traumatic stress.

Understanding biological pathways that mediate trauma-related psychopathology is a major goal for traumatic stress studies. There is growing interest in studying differences in neural, physiological, and behavioral correlates of traumatic stress across demographic groups (e.g., sex/gender, race/ethnicity). However, challenges remain in how to appropriately conceptualize the source, mechanisms, and practical utility of between-group variation. The present brief conceptual review discusses ethnicity, race, and sex/gender-related variability relevant to understanding the psychobiology of traumatic stress in the context of traumatic stress studies. We discuss recent evidence related to socioenvironmental influences on ethnoracial variability in the brain and behavior relevant to traumatic stress, as well as sex/gender associations in neurophysiology that may contribute to the development of adverse posttraumatic sequelae. We further synthesize these findings by discussing intersectional influences of sex/gender- and race/ethnicity-related factors on trauma-related physical and mental health outcomes. The present review provides an important foundation for future research on disparities and individual differences in traumatic stress to move the field toward more effective assessment and treatment approaches.

Tipping the scales for global mental health: A summary of the Presidential Panel at the 39th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

In the past decade, there has been an increasing focus within scientific research on how to assist people affected by the negative consequences of trauma and crises around the globe. As many countries struggle with a lack of resources to deliver mental health interventions, scalable strategies have been developed to help more people in need. These scalable strategies were the theme of the 39th annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS). The presidential panel, chaired by Marit Sijbrandij during her ISTSS presidency, brought together a group of experts in the field of scalable interventions: Kenneth Carswell, Syed Usman Hamdani, Judy Bass, and Eirini Karyotaki. The panel highlighted the current state of the evidence on scalable interventions for adults and children and outlined important next steps for research and implementation. These recommendations include further improving the availability of, and evidence for, scalable interventions through increased training and sustained funding; conducting more studies in underrepresented samples, such as children and adolescents; and promoting open access availability of research findings worldwide. In this paper, we provide an overview of the topics discussed in the panel as well as the key takeaways.

Quality of Life and Well-Being in Adults With Fontan Physiology: Findings From the Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry Quality of Life Study.

To characterize global and health-related quality of life (QOL) among adults with Fontan physiology enrolled in the Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry (ANZFR), and identify sociodemographic, clinical, psychological, and relational factors associated with outcomes. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 66 adults with Fontan physiology (58% women; mean age, 29.6±7.7 years; range, 18-50 years) completed validated self-report measures. Health-related QOL was assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, and global QOL was assessed using a visual analog scale (0-10). Participants reported lower total health-related QOL (P<0.001), as well as lower physical (P<0.001) and social (P=0.002) functioning compared with normative data. Median global QOL was 7.0 (interquartile range: 5.0-8.0) and most participants (71%) rated their QOL ≥6. For health-related QOL, age, sex, university education, and length of hospital stay in the past 12 months explained 27% of the variance in scores, while general psychological stress, medical traumatic stress, communication problems, and access to emotional support explained a further 44% of variance (final model: 71% of variance explained). For global QOL, sociodemographic and clinical factors explained 20% of the variance in scores, while psychological stress and sense of coherence explained a further 24% (final model: 44% of variance explained). Adults with Fontan physiology reported lower overall health-related QOL compared with community-based norms. Variance in QOL outcomes were predominantly attributable to psychological and relational factors. Tailored screening and assessment to identify Fontan patients at greatest risk of lower QOL, and a proactive approach to supportive care, are needed.

"The Use of Artificial Intelligence, Tai Chi and Qigong to Treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)"

"The Use of Artificial Intelligence, Tai Chi and Qigong to Treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)"

Introducing Trauma Trigger Fatigue as an Underlying Factor of Social Work Burnout.

Introducing Trauma Trigger Fatigue as an Underlying Factor of Social Work Burnout.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adolescents Bullied Because of Weight: A Feasibility Study.

The objective of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a treatment for weight bullying. Participants who had experienced weight-related bullying and were currently experiencing traumatic stress were recruited and enrolled in a feasibility trial of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy for eating disorders (TF-CBT-WB). Thirty adolescents (aged 11-17) were determined eligible and 28 began treatment (12 weeks). This study demonstrated the treatment feasibility and acceptability of TF-CBT-WB for adolescents with traumatic stress following weight-bullying experiences. Overall retention and treatment satisfaction were good. Within-subjects improvements were observed for intrusion symptoms of traumatic stress, global eating-disorder severity, overvaluation of weight/shape, dissatisfaction with weight/shape, dietary restraint, and depression. Clinically-meaningful improvements were attained for several patient outcomes. Clinically-meaningful decreases in functional impairment were attained by more than half of the participants. Overall, this clinical trial testing TF-CBT-WB for adolescents experiencing traumatic stress following weight-bulling experiences demonstrated therapy feasibility, acceptability, and initial evidence that clinically-meaningful improvements in patient outcomes were feasible. However, some patient outcomes thought to be more central to how the youth viewed the world failed to show improvements, suggesting that additional content related to these constructs might yield greater benefit. This pilot study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04587752, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Weight-related Bullying.

Paediatric Post-Traumatic Stress Risk for Young People and Parents following Acute Admission for Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome: Retrospective Analysis of Psychological Screening and Support.

Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PIMS-TS) is a novel condition that was identified for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic. Limited research exists that describes the psychological needs of children and young people (CYP) following an acute hospital admission for PIMS-TS. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to explore both psychological need and access to psychology services for CYP and their families who were admitted to a paediatric tertiary hospital in London, UK, for PIMS-TS between April 2020 and May 2021. We included 121 CYP and a parent/caregiver for each. In total, 23.3% of the CYP were at risk of developing a traumatic stress response and 11.6% were at risk of experiencing emotional disturbance. Of the parents screened, 40.5% also scored above clinical cut-off for a trauma response. There was a significant relationship observed between CYP and parents identified as having a trauma risk. The importance of proactive screening for both trauma and emotional distress in CYP and their parents/caregivers following acute hospital admission is highlighted. In addition, there is a need to think about a CYP as part of a system of care and to ensure that clinicians pay attention to parental wellbeing and mental health when understanding the psychological impact on a child.

Violence and traumatic stress among Cambodian survivors and perpetrators of the Khmer Rouge genocide

This article presents the findings of a groundbreaking focus group cohort method of studying the residual impacts of traumatic stress and violence as reported by survivors and perpetrators of the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia (1975–79). Both cohorts, separately participated in fifteen intensive focus groups lasting between one and five days across nine Cambodian provinces during 2012–13. This research focuses on the experiences of stress and violence by survivors and perpetrators during the genocide and since. The results of this study show that all 61 survivors and 58 perpetrators experienced multiple traumatic violent events during the genocide, and all lived in daily fear of being killed by the leaders of the Khmer Rouge. The results also show similar evidence of continued stress in both cohorts today, and parallel preoccupations with thoughts or memories of trauma and violence under the Khmer Rouge.