Abstract

Abstract

Background: The structure of trauma narratives is considered to be related to posttraumatic stress symptomatology and thus the capacity to make a coherent narrative after stressful events is crucial for mental health.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study examines the psychometric properties and clinical utility of a brief diagnostic instrument known as the Self-Rating Scale for PTSD (SRS-PTSD).

METHOD:

The scale was applied to a sample of 136 survivors of a plane crash. We designed SRS-PTSD as an abridged version of the Structured Interview for PTSD (SI-PTSD), which measures the presence and severity of PTSD symptoms from both a current and a lifetime perspective.

RESULTS:

Background: It is well-known that exposure to combat puts individuals at risk for developing adverse psychological problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and health-related behaviour problems and that the presence of combat-related injury increases the risk for psychopathology. Little is known, however, about the consequences of combat among conscripted soldiers fighting against terrorism in their homeland.

Abstract

Background: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a common occurrence and a robust, yet non-specific, predictor of adult psychopathology. While many demographic and abuse factors have been shown to impact this relationship, their common and specific effects remain poorly understood.
Objective: This study sought to assess the prevalence of Axis I disorders in a large sample of help-seeking victims of sexual trauma, and to examine the common and specific effects of demographic and abuse characteristics across these different diagnoses.

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

The first of a of series state-of-the-art reviews commissioned to mark Disasters' 21st anniversary, this paper considers key publications on public health aspects of natural disasters, refugee emergencies and complex humanitarian disasters over the past twenty-odd years. The literature is reviewed and important signposts highlighted showing how the field has developed. This expanding body of epidemiological research has provided a basis for increasingly effective prevention and intervention strategies.