Psychological therapies for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent in children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and has high personal and health costs. Although a wide range of psychological therapies have been used in the treatment of PTSD there are no systematic reviews of these therapies in children and adolescents. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effectiveness of psychological therapies in treating children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with PTSD.

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Psychosocial safety climate buffers effects of job demands on depression and positive organizational behaviors

Abstract In a general population sample of 2343 Australian workers from a wide ranging employment demographic, we extended research testing the buffering role of psychosocial safety climate (PSC) as a macro-level resource within the health impairment process of the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model. Moderated structural equation modeling was used to test PSC as a moderator between emotional and psychological job demands and worker depression compared with control and social support as alternative moderators.

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Protect: Process of Recognition and Orientation of Torture Victims in European Countries to Facilitate Care and Treatment

According to Council Directive 2003/9/EC of January 27th 2003 laying down minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers, the Member States have to take into account the specific situation of vulnerable persons among other applicants who have been subjected to torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence. This provision shall apply only to applicants recognized as having special needs, after an individual assessment of their situation.

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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).

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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