Social connectedness: A potential aetiological factor in the development of child post-traumatic stress disorder

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate a new social connectedness factor and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in children who experienced a cyclone disaster. Method: Three months post-disaster school-based screening for PTSD was conducted. 804 children (mean age=10.22 years, SD=1.24) participated. 12.0% of children reported severe or very severe PTSD symptoms. Results: Low connected children, adjusted for age, gender and independent of cyclone exposure and threat perception, were 3.96 times more likely to experience severe to very severe PTSD.

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Serving military families in the 21st century

This text introduces readers to military families, their resilience, and the challenges of military life. Personal stories from active duty, National Guard, reservists, veterans, and their families, from all branches and ranks of the military, and those who work with military personnel, bring their experiences to life. A review of the latest research, theories, policies, and programs better prepares readers for working with military families. Objectives, key terms, tables, figures, summaries, and exercises, including web based exercises, serve as a chapter review.

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Sleep disturbances and post-traumatic stress disorder, A perpetual circle?

AbstractBackground: Sleep facilitates the consolidation of fear extinction memory. Disrupted sleep has been proposed as a vulnerability factor for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Moreover, nightmares and insomnia are hallmark symptoms of PTSD, possibly interfering with fear extinction and compromising recovery. A perpetual circle may develop when sleep increases the risk for PTSD, and PTSD leads to an increase of sleep disturbances. To date, therapeutic options for alleviating sleep disturbances in PTSD are limited.

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Sa1412 Symptom Severity in Functional Bowel Disorders is Determined by Psychological Profile, Traumatic Events and Stress Reactivity

Background: IBS is a common, painful, potentially disabling GI disorder associated with significant mental and medical (physical) comorbidity. The rate of mental-physical comorbidity is particularly high in more severe IBS patients seen in tertiary care settings. The individual and joint effects of coexisting mental and physical conditions on IBS is unknown but important because of their influence on health outcomes in general. Aim. This study investigated the explanatory value of 2 approaches for modeling mental-physical comorbidity associated with IBS.

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Salivary cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in adolescent rape victims with post traumatic stress disorder

AbstractBACKGROUND: In chronic sexual abuse victims with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis can be dysregulated. In single rape victims, PTSD symptoms are hypothesized to function as a chronic stressor leading to similar HPA-axis dysregulation.

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Resilience as a predictor of treatment response in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder treated with venlafaxine extended release or placebo

This post-hoc analysis evaluated resilience as a predictor of treatment response in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Data were pooled from two randomized, double-blind studies conducted with adult outpatients treated with flexible doses of venlafaxine extended release (ER) 37.5 to 300 mg/day or placebo. The 17-item Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale (CAPS-SX(17)) was the primary outcome measure.

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Recent trends in the treatment of prolonged grief

Treatment for prolonged grief has been controversial. However, recent studies have clarified several key issues, offering important guidance to clinicians. This review summarizes the most recent evidence on the efficacy of grief treatments, moderators of treatment response, and new treatment approaches. Recent research findings highlight that grief therapy is efficacious when targeted to adult and child grievers with persistent and elevated levels of distress.

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Reciprocal relations between recovery and work engagement: the moderating role of job stressors

In this paper, we examined the within-person relations between morning recovery level (i.e., feeling refreshed and replenished) and work engagement throughout the day, and between work engagement throughout the day and the subsequent recovery level at the end of the workday. We hypothesized that job stressors (situational constraints, job demands) moderate these relations.

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Rectal Sensitivity, but Not Drinking Capacity, is Associated With Stress Response in Healthy Volunteers and Patients With Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Introduction: Functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are two important functional gastrointestinal disorders. Factors that contribute to symptoms are psychosocial factors, traumatic events, stress response and sensitivity of the stomach and gut. Previous we have shown an association between these factors and stress reactivity. However, whether the acute physiological stress response affects gastrointestinal sensorimotor function remains unknown. In this study we explored this relation in healthy volunteers, FD and IBS.

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REM Sleep Bout Duration and Frequency in PTSD

The few pharmacological treatments shown to be effective in reducing sleep disturbance in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) might work through normalization of rapid eye movement (REM). However, evidence of REM sleep disturbance in PTSD has been inconsistent and the definition of REM bout has varied as well. In this study, we compared polysomnographic findings in adults with PTSD to both normal sleepers and insomniacs. We found no differences between those with and without PTSD on REM bout frequency or duration.

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