Self-worth mediates the effect of violent loss on PTSD symptoms

Although research has confirmed that violent losses can exacerbate grief reactions, few investigations have explored underlying mechanisms. In this study, the authors used a dataset on bereaved spouses and bereaved parents at 4- and 18-months postloss to examine the mediating effects of self-worth and worldviews (benevolence and meaningfulness beliefs). Persons bereaved by violent causes had significantly more posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), grief, and depression symptoms at 4- and 18-months postloss than persons bereaved by natural causes.

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Sequelae of Traumatic Stress : Psychopathology, Cortisol, and Attentional Function in the Aftermath of a Disaster

Marie-Louise Meewisse onderzocht 260 getroffenen van de vuurwerkramp in Enschede. Twee jaar na de ramp leed de helft aan een psychische stoornis. Posttraumatische stress stoornis (PTSS) kwam voor bij 22 procent, een fobie bij 21 procent en een depressie bij 16 procent. Direct na de ramp had ongeveer de helft een psychische stoornis, na vier jaar nog maar 30 procent. Getroffenen met PTSS of depressieve klachten hadden ook problemen met aandacht en concentratie. Bij mensen met PTSS bleken die tot jaren na de ramp aanwezig, ook als de PTSS-klachten voorbij waren.

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Risk factors for posttraumatic stress reactions among Chinese students following exposure to a snowstorm disaster

BACKGROUND: It is important to understand which factors increase the risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adolescents. Previous studies have shown that the most important risk factors for PTSD include the type, severity, and duration of exposure to the traumatic events.METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was used to investigate the psychological symptoms associated with the aftermath of a snowstorm disaster in the Hunan province of China in January 2008. Students living in Hunan were surveyed at a three-month follow-up after the disaster.

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Sacrifice as Coping: A Case Study of the Cultural-Political Framing of Traumatic Esperiences among Eelam Tamils in Norway

Although traumatic events may be pathogenic to some, they may also be moderated by social and cultural factors such as community support and positively framed cultural reconceptualizations of the traumatic events. This article analyses how cultural-political narratives may frame individual traumatic experiences and channel them into collective causes among Tamil refugees in Norway. Data derives from participant observation within Tamil NGOs in Norway between September 2006 and February 2010.

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Resilience Monitor, Development of a measuring tool for psychosocial resilience

ObjectiveThe objective of the project Resilience Monitor is to develop a measuring tool, which can be repeatedly implemented to discover the degree to which Dutch people are able to overcome a disaster or a shocking experience. The measuring tool is administered individually.

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Resilience to loss and potential trauma

Initial research on loss and potentially traumatic events (PTEs) has been dominated by either a psychopathological approach emphasizing individual dysfunction or an event approach emphasizing average differences between exposed and nonexposed groups. We consider the limitations of these approaches and review more recent research that has focused on the heterogeneity of outcomes following aversive events. Using both traditional analytic tools and sophisticated latent trajectory modeling, this research has identified a set of prototypical outcome patterns.

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Retrospective memory bias for the frequency of potentially traumatic events: A prospective study

We conducted a prospective study that tracked the frequency of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and nontraumatic events among college students over a 4-year period using a weekly web-based survey. At the study's completion, participants attempted to recall the number of events they had endorsed on the web surveys. Although participants underrecalled the frequency of all types of life events, recollection was more accurate for PTEs than for non-PTEs. Recalled-frequency of PTEs was associated positively with distress at recall and inversely with trait self-enhancement.

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Reasons for not receiving treatment in people with posttraumatic stress disorder following war

The aim of the study was to explore why people suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following war do not receive treatment. A total of 212 participants who have PTSD following war in the Balkans and have never received psychiatric treatment were interviewed (86 in Western Europe and 126 in Balkan countries). Answers were subjected to thematic content analysis.

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PTSD and the Law: an update

Thirteen years ago, this journal published “PTSD and the Law” (Pitman & Sparr, 1998), a review that examined developments and state of the art in law, forensic evaluation, and expert testimony, providing specific forensic guidance that continues to be critically relevant in today’s courtroom. At the time, PTSD was characterized as a growth stock in the world of mental illnesses.

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Psychology of popular media culture

Psychology of Popular Media Culture (PPMC) is a scholarly journal dedicated to publishing empirical research and papers on how popular culture and general media influence individual, group, and system behavior. The journal will solicit rigorous research studies, as well as data-driven theoretical papers on constructs, consequences, program evaluations, and trends related to popular culture and various media sources. Although the journal welcomes and encourages submissions from a wide variety of disciplines, topics should be linked to psychological theory and research.

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