Empirical data have challenged the unidimensionality of the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ), a widely used measure for peritraumatic dissociation. The aim of this study was to assess the factor structure of the PDEQ in 3 trauma-exposed samples: (a) trauma-exposed police officers (N = 219), (b) trauma-exposed civilians (N = 158), and (c) treatment-seeking trauma-exposed civilians (N = 185). Confirmatory factor analyses using measurement invariance testing supported a 2-factor structure (CFIs .96-.98, RMSEAs .07-.09), but excluded 2 of the original items.

Background: Mental disorders are highly comorbid: people having one disorder are likely to have another as well. We explain empirical comorbidity patterns based on a network model of psychiatric symptoms, derived from an analysis of symptom overlap in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV).

Background: Mental disorders are highly comorbid: people having one disorder are likely to have another as well. We explain empirical comorbidity patterns based on a network model of psychiatric symptoms, derived from an analysis of symptom overlap in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV).

Contact dermatitis (CD) is a common health problem, which affects both men andwomen and accounts for 85-90% of all skin diseases. Two main types of contact dermatitiscan be distinguished, according to the pathophysiological mechanisms involved, i.e. allergicand irritant CD. Allergic CD (ACD) requires the activation of antigen specific (i.e. acquired)immunity leading to the development of effector T cells, which mediate skin inflammation[1,2].

Abstract

The study of brain correlates of emotion in humans has posed a persistent challenge, in part because:a) it is difficult to manipulate and maintain strong emotional statesb) the analysis of state-effects is complicated by low-frequency drift and difficulties in specifying precisely what cognitive and affective operations may give rise to state-related brain activity.In this study, we induced an emotional state using a silent public speech-preparation task that has been shown to provoke anxiety.

AbstractPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects a minority of trauma-exposed persons and is associated with significant impairment. This longitudinal study examined risk factors for PTSD. We tested whether the presence of injuries resulting from trauma exposure predicted the course of PTSD symptoms. In addition, we tested whether gender, trauma type, perceived life threat, and peritraumatic dissociation predicted the onset of PTSD symptoms. 236 trauma-exposed civilians were assessed for PTSD symptoms with a structured interview at four occasions during 6 months posttrauma.

A substantial body of research shows that adverse life experiences contribute to both psychological and biomedical pathology. Twenty-four randomized controlled trials support the positive effects of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy in the treatment of emotional trauma and other adverse life experiences relevant to clinical practice. Twelve randomized studies of the eye movement component noted rapid decreases in negative emotions and/or vividness of disturbing images

BackgroundAlthough posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with disturbances in verbal memory, studies examining executive functioning in PTSD show mixed results.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to compare executive functioning in patients with current PTSD and controls without any psychiatric disorder. Standard mean differences (SMD) in executive functioning scores were calculated using random-effects models. Covariates were added to examine whether differences exist between subgroups.ResultsAcross 18 studies, 1080 subjects were included.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) negatively impacts sexuality, yet few studies have evaluated which component of PTSD contributes to this known association. The present study examined which of four PTSD clusters (numbing, avoidance, intrusiveness, and hyperarousal) was most closely linked to sexual problems in a sample of 197 veterans from the Iraq or Afghanistan wars. Newly registered veterans completed a packet of questionnaires including standardized measures of PTSD and questions regarding sexual functioning.