Trauma Blog

Research Methods: The Case for Nonlinear Dynamic Systems
Nonlinear dynamic systems (NDS) is a general theory that describes and predicts changes over time (i.e., dynamics; Gregson & Guastello, 2011). Whereas a linear approach assumes that input is proportional to output, NDS allows us to model sudden changes, such as properly timed jumps from small inputs producing vast changes to a system. Although a substantial body of research has identified variables critical to understanding trauma exposure and its aftereffects—such as factors related to resilience or vulnerability—it often attempts to examine these dynamic constructs in a static, linear fashion. I will briefly discuss why the general linear approach may fall short and how NDS allows us to look at critical variables in ways that capture complex relationships.
 

Does posttraumatic stress exacerbate pregnancy complications associated with violence exposure during pregnancy?
The concurrent experiences of violence and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) have a more severe impact on health than violence exposure alone, but little is known about how PTSS may be related to pregnancy complications for women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). This blog offers novel information on how IPV types and PTSS interact during pregnancy, including how they may contribute to the intergenerational transmission of trauma via the experience of pregnancy complications. Findings highlight the need for evidence-based prenatal interventions that successfully address both IPV exposure and mental health, including posttraumatic stress.

Research Methods During COVID-19: Critique and Recommendations for Trauma Researchers
StressPoints
In response to COVID-19, pandemic scientists, including trauma scholars, have made herculean efforts to develop successful treatments, vaccines, and effective mitigation strategies and to understand the impact of the pandemic on public mental health. The need to socially distance made survey research a popular tool for some of this work: A web search of science for “COVID-19” and “survey” produces 23,174 articles as of March 16, 2022. Translating these findings into effective public health policy, however, has faltered as the public has struggled to cope with conflicting messages, misinformation, and disinformation (Dhawan et al., 2021). The result has been shifting guidelines, public confusion, and a declining trust in public health agencies like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC; RAND Corporation, 2021). Inconsistencies in messaging have also fueled the sense of uncertainty created by the pandemic, which could further undermine public trust in the guidelines suggested to mitigate COVID-19 risk. To remedy this situation, we need to recognize how science itself may have contributed to the problem.  

LGBTQIA+ Issues: Domestic Violence in the LGBTQ+ Community: A Silent Pandemic

The history of violence against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community has been originally tied to the notion of disparate identities. Stereotypes permeate popular perception associating homosexuality with criminal activity, mental illness, and deviance.  These views, despite some progress in awareness about the LGBTQ+ community, have resulted in a continued cycle of ridicule, harassment, discrimination, trauma, and even death.¹ Among all forms of violence faced by the LGBTQ+ community, domestic violence is often overlooked. 

President’s Message
Pakistan has experienced historic and devastating flooding resulting from the interaction between melting glaciers in the northern regions of the country and monsoon rains. Over 1,400 lives have been lost, and over 33 million people are directly affected, experiencing loss of housing, property, livestock, crops, and infrastructure. In addition to the direct effects of the flooding, the country now faces food shortages and the spread of infectious diseases, exacerbated by the potential of the flooding taking months to recede. In addition to the physical health needs of those affected, the mental health toll of the disaster will no doubt be high. The need for scalable prevention and early interventions for trauma-related psychological distress is clear. Building from the knowledge base of the ISTSS Treatment Guidelines, the Executive Committee coordinated ISTSS’s collaboration with the World Health Organization, and partner Phoenix Australia, to contribute to further guideline development in this area.  

Military Matters: Not All Traumas are Created Equal: Phenotypic Heterogeneity of PTSD Symptoms in Relation to Index Traumas in U.S. Military Veterans
StressPoints
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent in military veterans and is associated with reduced mental and physical health functioning as well as overall quality of life (e.g., Hoge, Auchterlonie, & Milliken, 2006; Hoge et al., 2007; Pietrzak et al., 2013). According to the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5, American Psychiatric Association, 2013), PTSD consists of 20 different symptoms. However, not all symptoms are required for a diagnosis of PTSD, and PTSD symptom profiles can vary considerably. Indeed, one study found that there are over 600,000 symptom combinations that could yield a DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD (Galatzer-Levy & Bryant, 2013). Given such heterogeneity, increased attention has been given to the nature and severity of trauma exposures, as well as the role of index traumas in shaping the phenotypic expression of PTSD symptoms. 

Student Perspectives: Experiencing Workplace Bullying in Graduate Student-Supervisor Relationships
StressPoints
There are places where bullying is less expected, yet it can still be present. University students can experience bullying from any member of the university community. We will focus here on exploring bullying that can exist between a supervisor and their graduate student. This relationship, which can span several years, lends itself particularly to possible relationship difficulties that can lead to different forms of violence. In fact, this relationship is rooted in a power dynamic within a competitive and individualistic academic context that both graduate students and professors must follow in order to fit in and progress in the field (Yamada et al., 2014; Goodboy et al., 2015). Therefore, graduate students are a population that is particularly vulnerable to interpersonal violence in the workplace from their supervisors (Yamada et al., 2014; Goodboy et al., 2015).  

Media Matters: Staying Informed While Staying Safe: A Major Challenge in a World at ‎War Described by the 24-Hour News Cycle
StressPoints
For the past few months, the world has watched in horror as the invasion of Ukraine continues to unfold. Every day, viewers tune in to listen to more televised reports of indiscriminate bombings, civilian casualties, and fears/speculations of nuclear war. When journalists are not discussing the war in Ukraine, they often shift their focus to other fear-inducing topics such as global supply chain shortages, the rise in crime, pandemic deaths, or natural disasters. Reporting on international and local conflicts and other significant events is essential to raising awareness among the public of important issues and allowing journalists to counter misinformation and hold governments to account, yet the constant exposure to traumatic material can also be distressing for many viewers (Pfefferbaum et al., 2014). Although not officially recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as a potential cause of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there is at least some evidence that media consumption can worsen mental health outcomes among adults and children (Pfefferbaum et al., 2019). Given the central role journalism plays in society and the impact mass media can have on well-being, it is worth exploring how our need for reliable information and connection through the news can be best balanced with our need for psychological safety.