Investigation into Grief Experiences of the Bereaved During the Covid-19 Pandemic

The objective of the current study was to investigate the grief experiences of people affected by COVID-19. The study adopted a qualitative design of descriptive phenomenology. Fifteen adults who had lost a family member during the COVID-19 pandemic were selected as the sample through the purposive sampling method until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and the Colaizzi analysis method.

Prevalence of behavioral risk factors among Ukrainians during war amid existing stress factors

Background: Military conflicts and associated stress often lead to lifestyle changes. Unhealthy behaviors play a pivotal role in the development of cardiovascular risk factors and are potentially reversible. However, data on this topic remain scarce and outdated. Therefore, the objective of our study was to assess the prevalence of behavioral risk factors (BRFs) among Ukrainians, taking into account the presence of potential stress factors.

Ignorance is not all bliss : Investigating the added benefit of cannabidiol in anxiety disorder treatment

Approximately 30-50% of patients do not benefit from current treatments for anxiety disorders. The development of novel treatment strategies besides existing treatments is therefore highly needed. Cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabis constituent with an advantageous safety profile, is frequently used by patients for treating anxiety symptoms, but its effectiveness in this regard has not often been studied. We synthesized past research into CBD and anxiety to 1) provide an indication of clinical efficacy and 2) elucidate what constitutes a dose that is anxiety-reducing.

Attachment theory : survival, trauma, and war through the eyes of Bowlby

Children are no strangers to war and conflict, and for as long as history has been documented, so too has the negative impact of war on children. Attachment theory, which has shone a light upon the ways in which early life experiences can impact individuals across the lifespan, is a helpful lens through which we can view the consequences of war. Similar to the aftermath of war leading to lifelong and transgenerational suffering due to deaths and physical health issues, attachment difficulties created during war further compound long-term damage.

Antisemitism and Intergenerational Trauma

Antisemitism is an ancient form of discrimination that is increasing and intensifying today. Jews have experienced collective trauma as a result of the persecution that they have experienced. This is exemplified by the events of the Holocaust, which caused almost the total annihilation of the Jewish people. Trauma experienced by Holocaust survivors can impact their children and grandchildren. The events of October 7, 2023, act as trauma reminders for many of these survivors, their descendants, and all Jews around the world.

 

The effect of eye movement desensitization on neurocognitive functioning compared to retrieval-only in PTSD patients : a randomized controlled trial

Background
There is robust evidence that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with neurocognitive deficits, such as executive dysfunction or memory dysfunction. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based treatment for PTSD, in which eye movements (EMs) are performed during traumatic memory retrieval. We examined whether Eye Movement Desensitization (EMD) improves neurocognitive functioning in PTSD patients, in comparison with a retrieval-only control condition without EMs.

A call to represent the current diversity of family forms in attachment research

As family forms become increasingly diverse, their underrepresentation in attachment research is glaring. Although attachment theory aims to explain the influence of early relationships, studies have disproportionately focused on mothers. Even when other attachment figures are considered, the research is typically limited to fathers in biparental mother-father families. In this piece, we report on the wide variety of family configurations worldwide, and how children experience care from multiple attachment figures.

Global Collaboration on Traumatic Stress

The Global Collaboration on Traumatic Stress brings together researchers and clinicians from around the world who collaborate on topics of global importance.... 

 

 

Collective ambiguous loss after mass hostage-taking in war : exploring public mental health outcomes and resilience

Objective: Collective ambiguous loss can arise in communities facing the unresolved absence or presence of loved ones, marked by uncertainty and confusion. This study examines the impact of such loss on the general public in Israel after 251 individuals were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 2023.

 

Psychological impacts of the Gaza war on Palestinian young adults : a cross-sectional study of depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD symptoms

Background

The Gaza Strip has been embroiled in a violent military assault since October 2023, with an immense toll on the civilian population. Armed conflicts threaten the mental health of affected communities and survivors, and psychiatric morbidity increases with forced displacement and with severe and recurrent trauma. This study investigates the prevalence and predisposing factors of depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD symptoms in a group of young adult students from the Gaza Strip during the war.

 

Methods

Pages