Issue Information ‐ TOC
(Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress)
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - February 12, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: ISSUE INFORMATION Source Type: research

2023 Annual Acknowledgment of Reviewers
(Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress)
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - February 12, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: REVIEWER ACKNOWLEDGMENT Source Type: research

Associations among posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, life satisfaction, and well ‐being comparisons: A longitudinal investigation
AbstractMany individuals who encounter potentially traumatic events go on to develop symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research suggests that survivors of traumatic events frequently compare their current well-being to different standards; yet, knowledge regarding the role of comparative thinking in well-being is limited to a few cross-sectional studies. We therefore examined the temporal associations among aversive well-being comparisons (i.e., comparisons threatening self-motives), PTSD symptoms, and life satisfaction in individuals exposed to traumatic events. Participants (N = 518) with a trauma history...
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - February 12, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Pascal Schlechter, Thole H. Hoppen, Nexhmedin Morina Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

Linguistic and affective characteristics of script ‐driven imagery for adults with posttraumatic stress order: Associations with clinical outcomes during deep transcranial magnetic stimulation
This study investigated the effect of SDI plus active versus sham deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial for adults with PTSD (N = 134). Linguistic features of scripts and self-reported distress during a 12-session deep TMS treatment protocol were examined as they related to (a) baseline PTSD symptom severity, (b) trauma characteristics, and (c) treatment outcomes. Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) software was used to analyze the following linguistic features of SDIs: negative emotion, authenticity, and cognitive processing. More use of negative emotion...
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - January 31, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Andrew G. Guzick, Aron Tendler, Lily A. Brown, Ogechi C. Onyeka, Eric A. Storch Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

State of the science: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy
AbstractEye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with support from more than 30 published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrating its effectiveness in both adults and children. Most international clinical practice guidelines recommend EMDR therapy as a first-line treatment for PTSD. This paper describes the current state of the evidence for EMDR therapy. We begin with a brief description of EMDR therapy and its theoretical framework. Next, we summarize the scientific support for its efficacy, effectiveness, and safety...
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - January 29, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Ad de Jongh, Carlijn de Roos, Sharif El ‐Leithy Tags: STATE OF THE SCIENCE Source Type: research

Gender differences in mental health outcomes among Afghanistan veterans exposed to war zone trauma
This study examined gender differences in a range of mental health outcomes within three levels of war zone trauma exposure and investigated gender differences in risk and protective factors associated with clinical mental health problems. Using data from a cross-sectional, postdeployment survey, a sample of Norwegian veterans of recent military operations in Afghanistan (N = 6,205, 8.3% women) were sorted according to reported war zone trauma exposure level (low, medium, high), then assessed for symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), posttraumatic distress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and alcohol problems. T...
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - January 26, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Line R ønning, Andreas Espetvedt Nordstrand, Odin Hjemdal, Hans Jakob Bøe Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

Rethinking trauma ‐related psychopathology in the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP)
AbstractResearch on trauma exposure and its consequences has made tremendous progress in elucidating the role of traumatic life events in the development and maintenance of psychopathology as well as in evaluating interventions aimed at addressing the personal and public burden of trauma-related psychopathology. However, there is growing concern that problems with predominant definitions of posttraumatic syndrome (e.g., content coverage and scope, within-category heterogeneity, excessive diagnostic comorbidity) limit further efforts to fully conceptualize trauma-related psychopathology and deliver appropriate, personalized...
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - January 25, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Holly F. Levin ‐Aspenson, Ashley L. Greene Tags: REVIEW ARTICLE Source Type: research

2023 Annual Acknowledgement of Reviewers
(Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress)
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - January 23, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: REVIEWER ACKNOWLEDGMENT Source Type: research

Moving forward with a culturally inclusive PTSD Criterion A: Commentary on Marx et  al. (2023)
AbstractIn response to Marx et  al.’s (2023) article, “The PTSD Criterion A debate: A brief history, current status, and recommendations for moving forward,” this commentary offers agreement with the recommendation to conduct population-based studies to inform future Criterion A changes. However, to fully address the debat e as to whether Criterion A should be expanded, limited, eliminated, or remain unchanged, it is critical that future population-based research focus on cultural inclusivity and the addition of potentially traumatic experiences that are collective and/or cumulative versus individual and discrete. T...
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - January 17, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Maureen A. Allwood Tags: COMMENTARY Source Type: research

Trauma exposure and transdiagnostic distress: Examining shared and posttraumatic stress disorder –specific associations
We examined transdiagnostic and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) –specific associations with multiple forms of trauma exposure within a nationwide U.S. sample (N = 1,649, 50.0% female) of military veterans overselected for PTSD. A higher-order Distress factor was estimated using PTSD, major depressive disorder (MDD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms as indicators. A structural equation model spanning three assessment points over an average of 3.85 years was constructed to examine the unique roles of higher-order Distress and PTSD-specific variance in accounting for the associations between trauma expos...
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - January 17, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Michael L. Crowe, Sage E. Hawn, Erika J. Wolf, Terence M. Keane, Brian P. Marx Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

Assisting refugee survivors of torture and trauma: An existential perspective
AbstractConsistent exposure to refugee narratives of trauma and torture can profoundly impact trauma therapists. This secondary analysis reanalyzed data from a narrative inquiry investigating the lived experiences of refugee trauma therapists. We aimed to explore emergent concerns through an existential lens to enrich understanding and provide additional insights into the lived experiences of these individuals. Participants in this purposive sample (N = 19) were therapists who had provided interventions to refugees for 2 –34 years. Narrative construction, theory-guided data analysis, and memo writing were used to reanaly...
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - January 14, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Pearl Fernandes, Paul Rhodes, Niels Buus Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

A network analysis of Hurricane Maria –related traumatic stress and substance use among Puerto Rican youth
We examined associations between PTSD symptoms and substance use, identified clusters of symptoms and bridges between them, and explored age- and binary gender–relate d differences in associations between specific PTSD symptoms and substance use. Analyses identified two symptom communities: (a) arousal and reactivity, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and substance use, and (b) avoidance and intrusion. Broader findings suggested that substance use was m ost strongly associated with PTSD-related irritability and angry outbursts among youths. Surrounding nodes explained only 4.1% of the variance in substance use,...
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - January 10, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Alejandro L. V ázquez, Cynthia M. Navarro Flores, Daniel K. Feinberg, Juan Carlos Gonzalez, John Young, Regan W. Stewart, Rosaura E. Orengo‐Aguayo Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research

Effects of child trauma screening on trauma ‐informed multidisciplinary evaluation and service planning in the child welfare system
AbstractDespite the prevalence of exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) among children involved with the child welfare system (CWS), trauma screening is not yet a common practice. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of embedding a formal trauma screening process in statewide multidisciplinary evaluations for CWS-involved youth. A retrospective record review was conducted with two random samples of cases reflecting both pre- and postimplementation of formal screening procedures (n = 70 preimplementation,n = 100 postimplementation). Findings from the record review indicate statistically significant i...
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - January 9, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Christian M. Connell, Ann Shun Swanson, Maegan Genovese, Jason M. Lang Tags: BRIEF REPORT Source Type: research

A clinician's guide to the 2023 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder
AbstractA clinical practice guideline (CPG) is a rigorously established set of recommendations based on currently available evidence about the efficacy, safety, acceptability, and feasibility of interventions to assist with clinical decision-making. The 2023 Department of Veterans Affairs /Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder is described herein. The CPG recommendations are accompanied by a clinical algorithm, which incorporates principles of evidence-based practice, shared decision-making, and functional and contextual assessments of go...
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - January 8, 2024 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Ariel J. Lang, Jessica L. Hamblen, Paul Holtzheimer, Ursula Kelly, Sonya B. Norman, David Riggs, Paula P. Schnurr, Ilse Wiechers Tags: REVIEW ARTICLE Source Type: research

Differential correlates of prolonged grief and depression after bereavement in a population ‐based sample
This study compared the correlates of depression and prolonged grief (PG) symptoms in a population-based random sample (N = 535) using the Beck Depression Inventory, Inventory of Complicated Grief –Revised, Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), and Adult Separation Anxiety Questionnaire (ASAQ). Correlates of PG and depressive symptoms were examined using linear regression in 328 bereaved respondents. The prevalence of probable PGD based on PGD-2009 criteria was 3.0% among bereaved respondents an d 1.9% in the total sample. PG was related to bereavement-related features including sex of the deceased, β = − .110,p = .026; ti...
Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress - December 22, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Arda Ba ğcaz, Cengiz Kılıç Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research