Psychological and social theories of PTSD

Psychological theories have been developed to explain why certain trauma survivors go to develop PTSD and others not. These theories try to capture what happens at the level of the trauma survivor's personal experiences, in terms of thoughts , memory, emotions, behaviours and underlying processes of which the person is unaware.

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Music therapy as an adjunct to standard treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder and co-morbid anxiety and depression: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract
Background
Previous studies have highlighted the potential therapeutic benefits of music therapy as an adjunct to standard care, in a variety of psychiatric ailments including mood and anxiety disorders. However, the role of music in the treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) have not been investigated to date.
Methods

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A Randomized Clinical Trial of Group Cognitive Processing Therapy Compared With Group Present-Centered Therapy for PTSD Among Active Duty Military Personnel

Objective: To determine whether group therapy improves symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this randomized clinical trial compared efficacy of group cognitive processing therapy cognitive only version; CPT-C) with group present-centered therapy (PCT) for active duty military personnel. Method: Patients attended 90-min groups twice weekly for 6 weeks at Fort Hood, Texas. Independent assessments were administered at baseline, weekly before sessions, and 2 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months posttreatment. A total of 108 service members (100 men, 8 women) were randomized.

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Assessing the Family Dynamics of Childhood Maltreatment History with the Childhood Attachment and Relational Trauma Screen (CARTS)

Background: Existing survey measures of childhood trauma history generally fail to take into account the relational-socioecological environment in which childhood maltreatment occurs. Variables such as the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim, the emotional availability of caregivers, witnessing the abuse of others, and the respondent’s own thoughts, feelings, and actions in response to maltreatment are rarely assessed by current measures.

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Trauma or growth after a natural disaster? The mediating role of rumination processes

Abstract

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Psychotherapy for Military-Related PTSDA Review of Randomized Clinical Trials

Importance Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disabling psychiatric disorder common among military personnel and veterans. First-line psychotherapies most often recommended for PTSD consist mainly of “trauma-focused” psychotherapies that involve focusing on details of the trauma or associated cognitive and emotional effects.
Objective To examine the effectiveness of psychotherapies for PTSD in military and veteran populations.

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Post-traumatic stress influences the brain even in the absence of symptoms: A systematic, quantitative meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies

Abstract

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Course of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder 40 Years After the Vietnam WarFindings From the National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study

Importance The long-term course of readjustment problems in military personnel has not been evaluated in a nationally representative sample. The National Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study (NVVLS) is a congressionally mandated assessment of Vietnam veterans who underwent previous assessment in the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS).
Objective To determine the prevalence, course, and comorbidities of war-zone posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) across a 25-year interval.

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Leadership of Mayors and Governors during Crises: A Systematic Review on Tasks and Effectiveness

The aim of this article is to provide a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature on leadership tasks and effectiveness of mayors and governors during drastic collective events. A total of 34 peer-reviewed articles met our criteria. They were analysed using the theoretical framework by Boin on leadership tasks, i.e., sense making, decision making, meaning making, terminating, and learning. Studies ranged from minor incidents like local riots, to the events of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. The material turned out to be dominated by Western and American studies.

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Post-disaster psychosocial support and quality improvement:A conceptual framework for understanding and improving the quality of psychosocial support programs

This article is original in that it addresses post-disaster psychosocial support programs from a qualityimprovement perspective, not from the traditional viewpoint of mental health services. Based on a combination of renowned quality models, a framework is sketched that offers chances to better understand and optimize the quality of post-disaster psychosocial service delivery. The quality is reflected in the program’s structure, process, and outcome. Moreover, quality can be expressed in scores per criterion (i.e.

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