Idioms of distress among trauma survivors: subtypes and clinical utility

In this introduction to the Special Issue on Trauma and Idioms of Distress, we provide an overview of the concept and typology of idioms of distress, focusing particularly on their clinical utility. This includes the role of idioms as indicators of trauma exposure, of various types of psychopathology and of levels of distress, risk and functioning. It likewise includes the fact that idioms of distress may profoundly influence the personal meaning of having a trauma-related disorder, may shape the interpersonal course of the disorder and may pattern help-seeking and self-treatment.

Haiti emerging from the ruins

This edition pays tribute to Haitian Red Cross volunteers for their efforts to rescue and assist the victims of the earthquake. Also in this issue: restoring family links in the aftermath of natural disasters, tuberculosis in the prisons of Azerbaijan and Georgia, the Movement takes up the challenge of urban violence. (Publisher)

Helping families and communities recover from disaster : lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall along the Central Gulf Coast region of the United States. The storm and its aftermath resulted in the most severe, damaging, and costly natural and unnatural disaster in the nation's history—as evidenced by the size of the region affected, the loss of life, the extensive destruction of property, and the thousands displaced.Over 2 years post-disaster, many families lived in temporary housing and had limited access to basic services, to date, many continue to struggle to meet basic needs.

Gruppenpsychotherapie bei traumatisierten Patientinnen.Konzepte und Stand der Forschung

Group psychotherapy has been shown to be a valuable element in the treatment of trauma survivors. Most concepts address childhood trauma, while some also deal with survivors of war trauma. A variety of psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral group concepts are presented. While transference-oriented psychodynamic group psychotherapy aims at working through enactments of traumatic experiences in the transference relationship, other psycho-dynamic approaches focus on processing traumatic affects without using transference work.

Gruppentherapie mit komplex traumatisierten. Patientinnen im stationären Setting

Group psychotherapy with complex traumatized clients can be highly challenging for therapists. Traditional psychodynamic group therapy can be especially overwhelming for patients with dissociative comorbidity. These patients tend to react with avoidance, withdrawal, and dissociation to emotions mobilized during the group process.

Explaining the impact of a women's group led community mobilisation intervention on maternal and newborn health outcomes: the Ekjut trial process evaluation

BackgroundFew large and rigorous evaluations of participatory interventions systematically describe their context and implementation, or attempt to explain the mechanisms behind their impact. This study reports process evaluation data from the Ekjut cluster-randomised controlled trial of a participatory learning and action cycle with women's groups to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in Jharkhand and Orissa, eastern India (2005-2008).

Exploring the impact of displacement and encampment on domestic violence in Kakuma refugee camp

This paper explores how conditions of life in a refugee camp contribute to domestic violence. It draws on the 'nested ecological model' of domestic violence, which integrates individual and family factors, socio-economic context, and culture. Displacement depletes the resources available to refugees at each of these levels. Eighteen focus group discussions were held in Kakuma refugee camp (Kenya). Most displacement-related factors identified as contributing to domestic violence are consequences of the structural conditions of refugees' lives.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is an integrative psychotherapeutic approach that emphasizes the role of the brain's information processing system in ameliorating the somatic and psychological consequences of distressing events. Current emotional problems not caused by organic deficit or physical insults are conceptualized as the result of inappropriately processed memories of disturbing or traumatic experiences.

Families under fire : systemic therapy with military families

This title provides guidelines for systems-based practice for a broad spectrum of civilian mental health practitioners who provide professional services to military personnel, their spouses, and their family members. The editors provide a nuts and bolts approach to military families utilizing a systems-based practice that is effective with families in the military, regardless of branch of service or the practitioner's therapeutic preference.

Examining the protective effects of mindfulness training on working memory capacity and affective experience

We investigated the impact of mindfulness training (MT) on working memory capacity (WMC) and affective experience. WMC is used in managing cognitive demands and regulating emotions. Yet, persistent and intensive demands, such as those experienced during high-stress intervals, may deplete WMC and lead to cognitive failures and emotional disturbances. We hypothesized that MT may mitigate these deleterious effects by bolstering WMC.

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