Pre-existing high glucocorticoid receptor number predicting development of posttraumatic stress symptoms after military deployment

Objective: The development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is influenced by preexisting vulnerability factors. The authors aimed at identifying a preexisting biomarker representing a vulnerability factor for the development of PTSD. To that end, they determined whether the dexamethasone binding capacity of leukocytes, as a measure of glucocorticoidreceptor (GR) number, before exposure to trauma was a predictor of development of PTSD symptoms.

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Prevalence and correlates of suicidal behavior among new soldiers in the U.S. Army: Results from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS)

Background: The prevalence of suicide among U.S. Army soldiers has risen dramatically in recent years. Prior studies suggest that most soldiers with suicidal behaviors (i.e., ideation, plans, and attempts) had first onsets prior to enlistment. However, those data are based on retrospective self-reports of soldiers later in their Army careers. Unbiased examination of this issue requires investigation of suicidality among new soldiers.

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Prevalence and Organisational Factors of Psychological Injury Among Australian School Teachers

In this study, we investigated the prevalence, severity, and organisational factors of risk for psychological injury in a national sample of Australian school teachers, using the Psychological Injury Risk Indicator. We predicted that teachers would report higher levels of risk for psychological injury if working in schools located in rural areas, with a low socioeconomic index, and low psychosocial safety climate. Teachers from across Australia (N = 960) completed an online survey that measured risk for psychological injury and relevant organisational factors.

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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in DSM-5: New Criteria, New Measures, and Implications for Assessment

The diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were substantially revised for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersGÇö5th edition (DSM-5). This in turn necessitated revision of DSM-correspondent assessment measures of PTSD. We describe the various changes to the PTSD diagnostic criteria and the corresponding changes to National Center for PTSD measures. We also discuss the implications of the new criteria for assessment of trauma exposure and PTSD.

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Posttraumatic stress: state of the art research and clinical implications for China

In a unique collaboration between The Seventh Hospitalof Hangzhou, the International Society forTraumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), and the ZhejiangBehavior Medicine Association, the international conference‘‘Posttraumatic stress: state-of-the-art researchand clinical implications for China’’ was organized inHangzhou, China, on 17 19 October 2014.

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Potential of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continues to attract both empirical and clinical interest due to its complex symptom profile and the underlying processes involved. Recently, research attention has been focused on the types of memory processes involved in PTSD and hypothesized neurobiological processes. Complicating this exploration, and the treatment of PTSD, are underlying comorbid disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Treatment of PTSD has undergone further reviews with the introduction of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

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Posttraumatic stress disorder

Currently, under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is classified within the new category of trauma and stressor-related disorders. PTSD frequently presents with fear and anxiety and most prior research has conceptualized PTSD as an anxiety disorder. This chapter discusses the epidemiological studies on prevalence of both potentially traumatic events and PTSD. It also deals with the natural course of the disorder, risk factors, functioning/impairment, commonly comorbid disorders, and differential diagnosis.

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Posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependence: Does order of onset make a difference?

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol dependence (AD) are frequently comorbid and the order in which they develop may affect the clinical presentation and response to treatment. This study compared 73 treatment-seeking participants who developed PTSD prior to developing AD ('PTSD-first') with 64 participants who developed AD prior to developing PTSD ('AD-first') on demographics, clinical presentation, and response to treatment for PTSD and AD.

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Partner accommodation in posttraumatic stress disorder: Initial testing of the Significant Others' Responses to Trauma Scale (SORTS)

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with myriad relationship problems and psychological distress in partners of individuals with PTSD. This study sought to develop a self-report measure of partner accommodation to PTSD (i.e., ways in which partners alter their behavior in response to patient PTSD symptoms), the Significant Others' Responses to Trauma Scale (SORTS), and to investigate its reliability and construct validity in 46 treatment-seeking couples. The SORTS demonstrated strong internal consistency and associations with individual and relationship distress.

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Pharmacotherapy in the aftermath of trauma, opportunities in the 'golden hours'

Several lines of research have demonstrated that memories for fearful events become transiently labile upon re-exposure. Activation of molecular mechanisms is required in order to maintain retrieved information. This process is called reconsolidation. Targeting reconsolidation - as in exposure-based psychotherapy - offers therefore a potentially interesting tool to manipulate fear memories, and subsequently to treat disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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