Secondary Traumatic Stress [STS] is a constellation of conditions ranging from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms to transformative cognitive shifts in self and world view. Prior to the mid 1990's much of the STS research focused on emergency responders (Arvay, M.J. 2001, Arvay & Uhlemann 2001), human service providers (Follette et al 1996, Bride 1995), and on one type of STS--vicarious traumatization. Since the mid 1990's STS research has increased in scope and volume, yet, little is known about how mental health practitioners experience Secondary Traumatic Stress.

OBJECTIVE: The notion that traumatic experiences in childhood may predict later psychotic outcomes would be strengthened if a plausible mechanism could be demonstrated. Because increased stress sensitivity is part of the behavioural expression of psychosis liability, the possible mediating role of childhood trauma was investigated. METHOD: Fifty patients with psychosis were studied with the experience sampling method to assess stress reactivity in daily life, defined as emotional and psychotic reactivity to stress.

Understanding children's recovery after trauma is considered important, but existing theories are mainly based on adult research. We carried out semistructured interviews with 25 purposively sampled children (8–12 years old) exposed to single-incident trauma. The children had been affected by the event itself but also by a long aftermath with secondary stressors.

Many children are exposed to traumatic events, with potentially serious psychological and developmental consequences. Therefore, understanding development of long-term posttraumatic stress in children is essential. We aimed to contribute to child trauma theory by focusing on theory use and theory validation in longitudinal studies. Forty studies measuring short-term predictors and long-term posttraumatic stress symptoms were identified and coded for theoretical grounding, sample characteristics, and correlational effect sizes.