Enhanced screening for posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid diagnoses in children and adolescents

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be a debilitating disorder and often co-occurs with other psychiatric disorders, such as mood, behavioral, and anxiety disorders. Early identification of PTSD and psychiatric comorbidity is highly relevant in order to offer children appropriate and timely treatment. The Children’s Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-13) is a reliable and valid self-report measure designed to screen children for PTSD. However, this measure is not useful as a screen for psychiatric comorbidity in children with probable PTSD.

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The influence of shame on posttrauma disorders: have we failed to see the obvious?

Background: While fear is known to be the dominant affect associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the presence and possible influence of other emotions is less well explored. Recent changes to diagnostic criteria have added anger, guilt and shame alongside fear as significant emotional states associated with the disorder. This article suggests that shame is a frequent, often poorly recognised sequel to trauma, occurring as a result of the meaning the individual places on the traumatic experience and on subsequent interpersonal and environmental events.

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Response to psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: the role of pretreatment verbal memory performance

Objective: Neuropsychological studies have consistently demonstrated impaired verbal memory in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma-focused treatment for PTSD is thought to rely on memory, but it is largely unknown whether treatment outcome is influenced by memory performance. The aim of the study, therefore, was to examine the relationship between verbal memory performance and treatment response to trauma-focused psychotherapy.

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Dexamethasone-suppressed cortisol awakening response predicts treatment outcome in posttraumatic stress disorder

Background
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with several alterations in the neuroendocrine system, including enhanced cortisol suppression in response to the dexamethasone suppression test. The aim of this study was to examine whether specific biomarkers of PTSD predict treatment success in trauma-focused psychotherapy.
Methods

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The role of early pharmacotherapy in the development of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms after traumatic injury: An observational cohort study in consecutive patients

Objective
Pharmacological intervention during traumatic memory consolidation has been suggested to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of this study was to examine the association between prescription of early pharmacotherapy and the risk of developing PTSD symptoms following traumatic injury.

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Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy versus stabilisation as usual with refugees: randomised controlled trial

Dit onderzoek richt zich op de vraag of het toepassen van EMDR bij vluchtelingen met PTSS zonder voorafgaande stabilisatiefase veilig en effectief is.

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Longitudinal measures of hostility in deployed military personnel

Increases in anger and hostility are commonly found after military deployment. However, it is unknown how anger and hostility develop over time, and which veterans are more at risk for developing these complaints. Data of 745 veterans one month before deployment to Afghanistan and one, six, twelve and 24 months after deployment were analyzed in a growth model. Growth mixture modeling revealed four classes based on their growth in hostility. Most of the participants belonged to a low-hostile group or a mild-hostile group that remained stable over time.

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Child maltreatment and psychological symptoms in a Portuguese adult community sample: the harmful effects of emotional abuse.

Child maltreatment (CM) is associated with poor long-term health outcomes. However, knowledge about CM prevalence and related consequences is scarce among adults in South European countries. We examined the self-reported prevalence of five different forms of CM in a community sample of 1,200 Portuguese adults; we compared the results with similar samples from three other countries, using the same instrument. We also explored the relationship between CM and psychological symptoms.

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Degree of exposure and peritraumatic dissociation as determinants of PTSD symptoms in the aftermath of the Ghislenghien gas explosion.

BACKGROUND:

This paper investigates risk factors for the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms in the different survivor groups involved in a technological disaster in Ghislenghien (Belgium). A gas explosion instantly killed five firefighters, one police officer and 18 other people. Moreover, 132 people were wounded among which many suffered severe burn injuries.

METHODS:

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Does exposure type impact differentially over time on the development of mental health disturbances after a technological disaster?

Background: A longitudinal study was conducted in order to assess the impact of the Ghislenghien disaster (July
30th, 2004) on physical, mental and social health in the affected population. The present study explored the risk for
the development of four types of mental health disturbances (MHD) due to exposure to different aspects of this
technological disaster in comparison with data obtained from previous health surveys among the population of the
same province.

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