Communications Corner
ISTSS Announcements and Updates

Special Interest Groups

Child Trauma SIG
The Child Trauma SIG had a successful meeting at the annual conference in New Orleans, providing an opportunity for individuals interested in the topic of trauma and children to gather and network. Several projects were discussed as avenues for SIG energy in the upcoming year, including creation of a resource guide, establishment of an informative Web page and potential symposia topics of interest for the next annual conference, including the impact of trauma during nonverbal stages of development and childhood antecedents of adult complex posttraumatic stress disorder. Names also were gathered for the purpose of creating a new Child Trauma SIG e-mail listserv.

For information about becoming part of a dynamic conversation on children and trauma, or for information about the Child Trauma SIG in general, e-mail co-chairs Margaret E. Blaustein at mblauste@mindspring.com or Toni Luxenberg at luxenbet@aol.com.

Creative, Body and Energy Therapies SIG
The Creative, Body and Energy Therapies SIG was formed for clinicians and researchers interested in alternative treatments for PTSD and trauma involving the creative arts therapies, body psychotherapies and energy therapies. For more information, contact David Read Johnson, chair, at 203/624-2146 or hadardavid@aol.com.

Dissociation SIG
The first meeting of the Dissociation SIG was held December 9. Thirty-four people attended and about 30 more sent e-mail stating their interest. There will be a dissociation symposium for the 2002 ISTSS annual meeting in Baltimore. Also, a survey will be sent to ISTSS members at the request of the board to determine interest in sharing joint sessions with the International Society for the Study of Dissociation at various conference times. In addition, members are discussing a group effort to propose a working definition of dissociation, which has been a confusing and controversial subject for many people. The Dissociation SIG plans to be an active group and will provide useful information and services to ISTSS.

For more information on the Dissociation SIG, contact co-chairs Kathy Steele at katsteele@mindspring.com or Constance Dalenberg at drcjd1@email.msn.com.

Early Intervention SIG
In New Orleans, the Early Intervention (EI) SIG developed several new initiatives. First, members decided to create a "clearinghouse" of developments in early intervention across survivor groups and intervention settings. The idea is to gather information about early intervention services, activities, materials, presentations and publications, to combine academic information with the sharing of pragmatic experiences, and to post as much of this information as possible on the Web as well as distributing it through the existing listserv.

Members volunteered to help lead information-gathering activities with regard to survivors of combat/peacekeeping, emergency workers and children. Others volunteered to lead efforts to gather information about key early intervention issues, such as relationship of EI to theory/basic science. Volunteers are needed to help gather information targeted at survivors of other traumas-such as sexual and other violent assault, disaster/terrorism and motor vehicle accidents, and other key issues, such as assessment/screening and research methodology. Second, the group has decided to organize a premeeting institute in Baltimore at the ISTSS annual meeting. Third, members agreed to update periodically best practices recommendations based on emerging research. The recent meeting drew approximately 20 new members, so the total membership for the SIG now stands approximately at 50.

For more information, contact Early Intervention SIG co-chairs Joe Ruzek at Josef.Ruzek@med.va.gov; 650/493-5000, ext. 22977 or Patricia Watson at Patricia.J.Watson@Dartmouth.edu; 802/295-9363, ext. 6071.

Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma and Resiliency SIG
Since the ISTSS annual meeting in December 2001, the Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma and Resiliency (ITT&R) SIG has gained significantly in membership. Thanks to the effort of the ITT&R SIG members, many conference participants found that the subject of "intergenerational transmission" permeates into many areas of traumatic stress studies.

A field that once was courted mainly by students of holocaust trauma seems to have made its way into the mainstream of psychotraumatology. The expansion of interest runs both horizontal, by broadening the population and ethnic groups under study, and vertical, by incorporating links to psychopathology, cultural anthropology, the study of violence prevention, and epidemiology. This year, representatives of the SIG presented three separate and diverse panels.

For those interested, join our listserv and our discussions by contacting chairs Andrei Novac: anovac@uci.edu or Diane Elmore: delmore2@aol.com.

Internet and Technology SIG
At the ISTSS annual meeting in New Orleans, the Internet and Technology SIG met and discussed better use of the World Wide Web for research and clinical activities. Garry Flint and Charles R. Figley are coordinating the effort and are seeking the names of members who are interested in becoming active in the SIG. Contact Figley at cfigley@mailer.fsu.edu or Flint at gaflint@junction.net for a list of current members in good standing or if you are interested in becoming more active in the organization.

Media SIG
The Media SIG in collaboration with the Dart Center for Trauma and Journalism has written a booklet for journalists about how to cover trauma. Copies of the pamphlet will be available soon through ISTSS affiliated journalists and the Web site. Contact the Media SIG for more information at newsboy@u.washington.edu. If ISTSS members have ideas about fundraising for additional dissemination, contact Roger Simpson at newsboy@u.washington.edu.

Announcements

Ethics Task Force
The ethics task force is working on guidelines designed to maximize benefits and minimize harm in the field of traumatic stress, and guide the provision of the finest level of service in the field. If you have comments or ideas about content or would like to work on the code, please contact Elana Newman at elana-newman@utulsa.edu.