Chapter Eleven - Post-traumatic stress disorder in psychedelic research

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychiatric condition that develops after exposure to trauma such as combat, natural disasters, or assault. It is characterized by re-experiencing trauma, avoidance, hyperarousal, and negative alterations in cognition and mood. Since its formal inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-III in 1980, PTSD has been extensively researched. Current guideline-recommended treatments include trauma-focused psychotherapies and medications.

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The crack in our souls : Military veterans’ perceptions of a potentially morally injurious peacekeeping mission.

During peacekeeping missions, military personnel may be exposed to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs). Little is known about how these PMIEs and their impact are experienced by peacekeepers themselves. In 1995, the Dutchbat III peacekeeping mission in Srebrenica, Bosnia, was unable to prevent mass ethnic violence and genocide. This study of military veterans of the Dutchbat III mission focused on the question of how they perceived their mission, the societal response to the mission, and its impact 25 years after its completion.

 

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Feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a highly intensive inpatient treatment programme with Narrative Exposure Therapy for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder

Introduction: Current guidelines recommend trauma-focused therapies for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Unfortunately, the percentage of non-response and dropout with these forms of therapy has proven to be substantial. Trauma-focused therapies offered in a highly intensive format have been found to lead to higher adherence and faster symptom reduction, but no studies so far have investigated Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) in an intensive programme.

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Chapter Twelve - Psychedelics for the treatment of end-of-life distress in patients with a life-threatening disease

Patients with a life-threatening disease (LTD) sometimes suffer from end-of-life distress (EOLD) which refers to the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual suffering related to chronic illness and the possibility of death. Palliative care interventions seek to improve the quality of life of patients with EOLD and their significant others. Currently, a range of psychological and pharmacological palliative care interventions may be used to mitigate the various symptoms related to EOLD. However, the evidence for their efficacy is inconclusive with only short- to moderate effects.

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The diagnostic accuracy of PTSD assessment instruments used in older adults : a systematic review

Background: As the number of older adults increases worldwide, understanding their mental health is crucial, including the impact of traumatic experiences that can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, validated screening and diagnostic instruments for PTSD in older adults are limited.

Objective: We sought to provide a comprehensive summary of the diagnostic accuracy of PTSD screening and diagnostic instruments used in older adults (Mage ≥ 60 years).

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Holocaust Trauma and its Transgenerational Transmission in the Visegrad Countries

In the context of Central and Eastern Europe, the legacy of the Holocaust is still very much alive. The post-war silence on the impact of the Holocaust and the persistent stigmatization of Jews during the communistic era has affected coping within the intergenerational chain of Holocaust trauma. Sharing the Hungarian, Polish, Slovak and Czech experiences together shows both similarities (such as the conspiracy of silence) and differences (societal milieu, relation to Jewish population) in addition to original attempts at coping and treatment for the traumatic impact of the Holocaust.

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The Age of Anorexia and the Weight of the Holocaust

This essay analyzes the rise of anorexia nervosa during the 1980s, a decade sometimes called the Age of Anorexia, by focusing on a metaphor that became widespread at the time: the anorexic girl as concentration camp inmate. The article traces the metaphor to its origins in postwar medical research, mostly carried out by Jewish doctors working in the aftermath of the Holocaust, on the long-term psychological and physiological impacts of extreme hunger.

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Returning to Ourselves : A Literature Review of the Expressive Arts and Healing Intergenerational Trauma Cycles

Intergenerational trauma can occur amongst any family and in any culture. This can emerge from any number of things, be it a cycle of abuse, displacement, or even natural disasters. Given its pervasive nature, it is important to explore how transgenerational trauma can be treated and processed. A literature review was conducted in order to research how expressive arts therapies could be a valuable treatment method for generational trauma and trauma-informed care.

 

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The cut : Psychoanalysis with a third-generation holocaust survivor

This paper underscores the dual responsibility in psychoanalytic practice: addressing individual and societal traumas. Using Benjamin, a third-generation Holocaust survivor, as a case study, it advocates integrating societal traumas into psychoanalysis, moving beyond individual denial. Benjamin's journey, involving psychoanalysis and community support, highlights the importance of active engagement with trauma for post-memorial healing.

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Echoes of ancestral trauma : Russo-Ukrainian War salience and psychological distress among subsequent generations in Holocaust survivor families

Objective: The Russo-Ukrainian War intensified when Russian troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The current study examined whether children (second generation; G2) and grandchildren (third generation; G3) of Holocaust survivors are more preoccupied with the war relative to comparisons. Moreover, whether there was more exacerbation in psychological distress in Holocaust survivor families relative to comparisons since the escalation of the war.

 

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