Narrative reconstruction therapy for prolonged grief disorder—rationale and case study

Background: Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) is a potentially disabling condition affecting approximately 10% of bereaved people. It has been suggested that the impaired integration of the loss memory, as expressed in recurrent memories of the loss and disorganization of memory, is involved in the development of PGD.

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School performance after experiencing trauma : a longitudinal study of school functioning in survivors of the Utøya shootings in 2011

Background: The psychological impact on survivors of terrorism has been well documented. However, studies on adolescent survivors and the academic performance of high school students following a terrorist attack are lacking.

Objective: This study investigated academic performance, absenteeism, and school support amongst survivors of a terrorist attack in Norway.

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Fresh eyes on the European refugee crisis

Over 1 million refugees and migrants have reached Europe via the Mediterranean in 2015. Almost a third of them were children (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR], 2015a, 2015b). About 1.2 million people started an asylum procedure in European Union (EU) countries last year, more than twice as many as in 2014 (Eurostat, 2016).

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Psychosocial predictors of treatment outcome for trauma-affected refugees

Background: The effects of treatment in trials with trauma-affected refugees vary considerably not only between studies but also between patients within a single study. However, we know little about why some patients benefit more from treatment, as few studies have analysed predictors of treatment outcome.
Objective: The objective of the study was to examine possible psychosocial predictors of treatment outcome for trauma-affected refugees.

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Evaluation of benefit to patients of training mental health professionals in suicide guidelines: cluster randomised trial

Background
Randomised studies examining the effect on patients of training professionals in adherence to suicide guidelines are scarce.
Aims
To assess whether patients benefited from the training of professionals in adherence to suicide guidelines.
Method

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An exploratory randomised trial of a simple, brief psychological intervention to reduce subsequent suicidal ideation and behaviour in patients admitted to hospital for self-harm.

BACKGROUND:
Implementation intentions link triggers for self-harm with coping skills and appear to create an automatic tendency to invoke coping responses when faced with a triggering situation.
AIMS:
To test the effectiveness of implementation intentions in reducing suicidal ideation and behaviour in a high-risk group.
METHOD:

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The Effects of Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy added to Treatment as Usual on suicidal ideation in chronic depression : Results of a randomized-clinical trial

Background
Suicidal ideation (SI) is common in chronic depression, but only limited evidence exists for the assumption that psychological treatments for depression are effective for reducing SI.

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Self-esteem treatment in anxiety : A randomized controlled crossover trial of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) versus Competitive Memory Training (COMET) in patients with anxiety disorders

Background and purpose

Little is known about treating low self-esteem in anxiety disorders. This study evaluated two treatments targeting different mechanisms: (1) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which aims to desensitize negative memory representations that are proposed to maintain low self-esteem; and (2) Competitive Memory Training (COMET), which aims to activate positive representations for enhancing self-esteem.

Methods

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Correcting Misconceptions About the Diagnostic Criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in DSM-5

This Special Communication argues for changing the definition of posttraumatic stress disorder in DSM-5. Are changes to the definition of posttraumatic stress disorder in DSM-5 a step forward?—Yes.

We take strong exception to many of the assertions, conclusions, and recommendations in the article by Hoge et al1 in this issue of JAMA Psychiatry. Although Hoge et al1 identify a number of reasons they do not support the DSM-52 workgroup’s revisions to the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we believe that their basic arguments are that

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[Trauma-focused psychotherapies: what are the commonalities?].

A number of evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are available. They differ in various ways, however, they also have a number of commonalities. Given this situation, clinicians may wonder which treatment program to use, or more specifically, which treatment components are critical for a successful therapy.

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