Psychiatric comorbidity of patients on methadone maintenance treatment with a history of sexual abuse

AbstractThe aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of a history of sexual abuse and its relation to psychiatric comorbidity among former opiate addicts currently on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). We evaluated the history of sexual abuse and current clinical obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), dissociative identity disorder (DID), and complex posttraumatic distress disorder (cPTSD), and administered the Life Events Inventory Questionnaire among 125 MMT patients (76 females and 49 males).

Read more

Posttraumatic stress symptoms and health-related quality of life: a two year follow-up study of injury treated at the Emergency Department

BackgroundAmong injury victims relatively high prevalence rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been found. PTSD is associated with functional impairments and decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Previous studies that addressed the latter were restricted to injuries at the higher end of the severity spectrum. This study examined the association between PTSD symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a comprehensive population of injury patients of all severity levels and external causes.

Read more

Posttraumatic Symptoms and Thought Control Strategies Among Aging Hidden Jewish Children

This study examined the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and the coping strategies of 51 aging hidden children (28 women and 23 men) 65 years after the Holocaust. Results indicated a positive relation between age and PTSD symptoms that was fully mediated by sense of danger and education. Regression analyses showed that lower educational level (B = -.32) and more reappraisals (B = .38) were associated with severity of PTSD symptoms. Reappraisal also predicted intrusions (B = .36) and arousal (B = .37).

Read more

Predicting PTSD, depression, and fatigue after military deployment: identification of biological vulnerability factors

AbstractA substantial minority of individuals exposed to severe or traumatic stress subsequently develops long-lasting mental or physical health problems, which may severely impair daily functioning. These stress-related conditions include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD) and severe fatigue. Military personnel deployed to combat zones are particularly at risk for the development of these conditions.

Read more

Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor level may contribute to the therapeutic response to eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing in complex post-traumatic stress disorder: a pilot study

We investigated the relationship between plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) and responses to eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) in complex post-traumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD). Before and after EMDR, plasma levels of neurotrophic factors and scores in the indices of self-questionnaires were obtained for eight men with complex PTSD. Baseline plasma levels of BDNF and NGF of responders and of non-responders were compared. The plasma BDNF levels of responders were higher than those of non-responders.

Read more

Post-disaster psychosocial services across Europe: The TENTS project

At present post-disaster activities and plans seem to vary widely. An adequate estimation of the availability of post-disaster psychosocial services across Europe is needed in order to compare them with recently developed evidence-informed psychosocial care guidelines. Here we report on the results of a cross-sectional web-based survey completed in 2008 by two hundred and eighty-six representatives of organizations involved in psychosocial responses to trauma and disaster from thirty-three different countries across Europe.

Read more

PKC{alpha} is genetically linked to memory capacity in healthy subjects and to risk for posttraumatic stress disorder in genocide survivors

Strong memory of a traumatic event is thought to contribute to the development and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therefore, a genetic predisposition to build strong memories could lead to increased risk for PTSD after a traumatic event. Here we show that genetic variability of the gene encoding PKC? (PRKCA) was associated with memory capacity-including aversive memory-in nontraumatized subjects of European descent. This finding was replicated in an independent sample of nontraumatized subjects, who additionally underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Read more

Parsing terrorism

In recent times, many terrorist attacks have been carried out by young men who knew they would die in the attack. This disturbing form of violence became a global concern after 9/11. The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars since then on the study of terrorism, and a new cadre of investigators is striving for quantitative rigor and testable theories. The study of suicide terrorism in particular has been a growth area. The work has challenged some long-accepted notions-for example, that terrorists are pathological, driven by religious fanaticism, or spurred by poverty.

Read more

Neurobiological foundations for EMDR practice

This volume introduces the most current research about the neural underpinnings of consciousness and EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) in regard to attachment, traumatic stress, and dissociation.The text examines online/wakeful information processing, including sensation, perception, somatosensory integration, cognition, memory, language and motricity, and off-line/sleep information processing, such as slow wave sleep and cognitive memorial processing, as well as REM/dream sleep and its function in emotional memory processing.

Read more

Openings for humanization in modern health care practices

In dit proefschrift wordt onderzocht hoe patiënten en professionals zich tot moderne zorgpraktijken verhouden en welke openingen voor humanisering zij in die praktijk zien. Humanisering wordt gezien als een dynamisch proces dat een functie is van patiënten, professionals en anderen die zich iedere dag weer opnieuw tot elkaar verhouden. Filosofisch is het proefschrift gefundeerd in een hermeneutisch-fenomenologische kentheorie. Het bestaat uit zeven deelstudies: beschrijvende kwalitatieve studies en responsieve evaluatiestudies.

Read more

Pages