Bringing Together Clinicians and Researchers From Around the World to Advocate for the Field of Traumatic Stress.
Healing Trauma Together
The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies is dedicated to sharing information about the effects of trauma and the discovery and dissemination of knowledge about policy, program and service initiatives that seek to reduce traumatic stressors and their immediate and long-term consequences. ISTSS is an international interdisciplinary professional organization that promotes advancement and exchange of knowledge about traumatic stress.
Late-Breaking Poster Abstracts for the ISTSS 40th Annual MeetingÂ
Deadline: Friday, July 26, 2024
All too often, research isn't completed when ISTSS abstract submissions close. ISTSS is ‎excited to offer this ‎‎opportunity to submit a late-breaking poster submission for the 40th ‎Annual Meeting.
Only poster abstract submissions will be considered.
The ISTSS 40th Annual Meeting will focus on innovative strategies to apply basic science ‎knowledge to the assessment and treatment of traumatic stress, as well as on the translation of ‎scientific findings into actionable interventions for the global community. In pursuit of this goal, we ‎seek submissions specific to the field of traumatic stress on topics related—but not limited—to:‎
- Application of biomedical science findings to inform assessments and interventions for ‎traumatic stress symptoms/disorders. ‎
- Research investigating the psychological, biological, social and behavioral ‎mechanisms that underlie post-trauma mental health.‎
- Research taking a life course perspective to address to address ‎the spectrum of ‎translational science research.‎
- Evidence-based practices and innovative research in basic science, intervention ‎development and implementation, and policy. ‎
- Innovative transdiagnostic treatment approaches addressing the myriad ‎consequences of trauma.‎
- Cutting-edge research methodologies and statistical frameworks for translational ‎science research.‎
- Ethical implications and considerations associated with the application of translational ‎science in traumatic stress studies.‎
- Ways to effectively communicate and disseminate research to different stakeholders.‎
- Ways to cultivate translational science and interdisciplinary exchange. ‎
- Challenges and debates in the area of translational science.‎
- Translational science as applicable to the global community.‎
Registration is Now Open!
Join us in Boston on September 25-28, 2024 for the ISTSS 40th Annual Meeting. The ISTSS Annual Meeting provides a forum for the dissemination of theoretical work, scientific ‎research, and evidence-based clinical approaches in traumatic stress studies.Â
Conversations and Consultations
Our Conversations and Consultation series is a members-only series that provides members with the opportunity to exchange valuable insight and advice with subject-matter experts, mentors, and/or colleagues in the trauma field. Each session is facilitated by one or more experts and presented to ISTSS members as a free membership benefit. Check out past sessions on industry careers, part-time private practice, and our most recent session on international collaboration.
Grow Your Professional Network by Volunteering with ISTSS
Volunteers play an integral role in ISTSS' day-to-day activities and form a broad professional network. Interested in adding an ISTSS volunteer position to your CV?
Student perspectives: Parenting during graduate school: What we know and avenues for future ‎research – Emmeline N. Taylor, MA
My doctoral cohort directly consists of three women. Indirectly, there are three spouses, four dogs, two rats, and five children ranging in ages from four months old to nine year old. As the newest parent to the bunch, I have spent much time reflecting on this emerging aspect of my identity, how it intersects with my identity as a doctoral student, and what the implications may be of my choice to start a family during graduate school. I clearly remember the responses I received when those outside of my graduate school network found out that I was expecting a child. The most common responses were “How are you going to do it? Your degree will probably be delayed now – are you sure you thought this through? How do you expect to parent as a student? Was this an accident?” Given these responses, as I prepared to tell those within the graduate school of the news, I braced for impact. This turned out to be unnecessary as those within my program were far more supportive than those outside of the program had initially been. All of this got me thinking, “Is this the norm? What research do we have on parenting during graduate school and as an early career psychologist?” As I embarked down the rabbit hole of research in this area, I was disappointed. Not only is there a dearth of research, but the research that does exist primarily focuses on barriers parents face and negative aspects of parenting. I found few studies highlighting the unique perspective and benefits that can be brought to the table by psychology student parents. Below I briefly outline what we know, as well as opportunities for future research.
Trauma and world literature: ‘The No-No Boy’ by John Okada – Howard Lipke, PhD
“No-no boys” were Japanese American young men who, after being drafted to enter the US military during WWII, answered “no” to two questions about their willingness to serve. They were imprisoned until the end of the war and then resumed their rights as US citizens. Further context is important. These young men were drafted out of concentration camps where they and all West Coast area residents of Japanese descent lived until the end of the war. They had been driven out of their homes, usually had to forfeit their possessions and almost every other aspect of their lives to live in conditions which were, in many ways, comparable to criminal imprisonment. The author himself experienced the internment, which the no-no boy of his novel endured, though unlike him Okada entered the military and flew reconnaissance missions during WWII.
Sleep Disorders and Traumatic Stress SIG spotlight: The fragmented life: The role of disordered ‎sleep in PTSD development, course and recovery – Peter Colvonen, PhD
The comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sleep disorders is staggeringly high, with 70 – 91% of individuals with PTSD reporting sleep disturbances. 1 The most common sleep disturbances include insomnia,2 obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) 3, 4 and nightmares,2 with prevalence rates in individuals with PTSD considerably higher than in unaffected individuals. Examined temporally, there is evidence that sleep disturbances may predict who will develop PTSD following a trauma.5 Additionally, poor sleep may make other PTSD symptoms more severe6 and may not remit following effective PTSD treatment.7 Finally, while the presence of nightmares and insomnia do not seem to interfere with effective evidence-based PTSD treatments, untreated OSA does.8,9 Taken together, targeted treatment of sleep disorders in the context of PTSD offers a unique and underutilized opportunity to advance clinical care and research.