ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre

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Exposure-related cortisol predicts outcome of psychotherapy in veterans with treatment-resistant posttraumatic stress disorder

Background

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning has been related to treatment outcome in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous studies have primarily focused on cortisol levels before and after a course of therapy and findings have not been fully consistent. This study investigated session-related cortisol levels in veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD over the course of a novel motion-assisted virtual reality exposure therapy and aimed to determine whether cortisol levels were related to changes in PTSD symptom severity.

 

Upscaling e‑mental health in Europe : a six‑country qualitative analysis and policy recommendations from the eMEN project

E-mental health (eMH) encompasses the use of digital technologies to deliver, support, or enhance mental health services.

The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies New Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder : Methodology and Development Process

Over the last two decades, treatment guidelines have become major aids in the delivery of evidence-based care and improvement of clinical outcomes. The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) produced the first guidelines for the prevention and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 2000 and published its latest recommendations, along with position papers on complex PTSD (CPTSD), in November 2018.

Development and initial validation of the job loss grief scale

Background: Research on complicated grief (CG) symptoms following job loss is surprisingly rare. Involuntary job loss can turn someone’s world upside down and can result in loss of identity, social contacts, and selfworth. In this study, we drew on the literature on major life events in conceptualizing involuntary job loss as a significant and potentially devastating life event.

Trauma-informed responses in addressing public mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic : position paper of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS)

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life in Europe and globally. The pandemic affects both individuals and the broader society across many domains, including physical and psychological
health, the economy and general welfare. The measures taken to counteract the pandemic have significantly altered daily life and, along with the threat of contracting the coronavirus and uncertainties surrounding future developments, created a complex system of stressors with a negative impact on public mental health.

 

Multi-Modal Virtual-Reality Based Treatment for Canadian Armed Forces Members with Combat- Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder:A Computer- Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) Waitlist Controlled Staggered Entry Study Protocol

Background: Military members (MMs), including Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Service members (SMs), and Veterans are at elevated risk of experiencing occupational traumas which can cause operational stress injuries (OSIs) including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and moral injury (MI). Traditional evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions can be effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD. Some MMs and Veterans, however, are less responsive to these treatments and considered to have Treatment-Resistant PTSD (TR-PTSD).

Experiences with medical cannabis in the treatment of veterans with PTSD : Results from a focus group discussion.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an often chronic condition for which currently available medications have limited efficacy. Medical cannabis is increasingly used to treat patients with PTSD; however, evidence for the efficacy and safety of cannabinoids is scarce. To learn more about patients' opinions on and experiences with medical cannabis, we organized a focus group discussion among military veterans (N = 7) with chronic PTSD who were treated with medical cannabis.

Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD

Brief eclectic psychotherapy for PTSD (BEPP) has been recognized as one evidence-based treatment for individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Clinicians interested in reducing symptoms and helping patients understand their traumatic experiences often resonate with BEPP as a treatment option. BEPP is a 16-session, manualized treatment specially designed for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. When first developed, BEPP was used and evaluated for treating police officers with PTSD in the Netherlands.

Associations of depressive rumination and positive affect regulation with emotional distress after the death of a loved one

The death of a loved one may precipitate symptoms of prolonged grief disorder (PGD), post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Brooding about the causes and consequences of one's negative affect (NA), also termed depressive rumination, has been linked to distress after loss. The role of dysregulation of positive affect (PA) has received less attention. We examined (1) the factor structure of depressive rumination and PA dysregulation and (2) to what extent these factors were related to PGD, PTSD and depression symptom levels.

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