Trauma Blog

Assessment of Reliability and Validity of a German Diagnostic Interview Module for ICD-11 Adjustment Disorder
Adjustment disorder (AjD) is a relatively frequent mental disorder in various clinical settings and high-risk groups of the general population (Perkonigg et al., 2018). The clinical utility of the AjD diagnosis has been often criticized (e.g., Casey, 2014) and the disorder was under-researched for example due to the fact that few descriptive and analytical epidemiological data were available. 

Dropout from PTSD treatment in military samples
This blog piece discusses a recently published systematic review on dropout rates among military personnel receiving PTSD treatment. 

President’s Message
As I was reading Dr. Debra Kaysen’s March 2020 President’s Message to find inspiration, it became quickly evident that what she wrote last year still rings true today, one full year later: “We are in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic that has upended most of our lives in ways that six [18, now] months ago would have been impossible to fathom.” However, while many things have remained the same, others have also significantly changed over the past year. I would therefore like to start this March 2021 message by amending Dr. Kaysen’s message and reminding us all that “we are in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic that has [taught us how to solve problems in creative and ingenious ways that 12] months ago would have been impossible to fathom.”

Trauma and Diversity: Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Principles Operationalized through the Trauma-Informed ‎Care (TIC) Framework
StressPoints
The past year has been one of loss and upheaval for millions of people, particularly for people who are Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC). The syndemics of racism and COVID-19, one chronic and the other acute, have left a trail of trauma, grief and stress that will likely have long-term mental and physical health effects across generations.

The Transgenerational Legacy of Totalitarian Regimes: System and Ecology of Trauma
This blog piece introduces ground concepts aiming to overcome fragmentation in individual, collective, and transgenerational trauma studies.

Long-Term Effects of Peacekeeping Deployment on Mental Health
Peacekeeping missions involve experiences that may impact the mental health of participating soldiers. The present study aimed to find the prevalence of mental health problems (MHPs), possible MHP predictors, and associations between predictors and MHPs in Norwegian peacekeepers 18–38 years after deployment to a United Nations peacekeeping mission. 

Student Perspectives: Student Therapists’ Perspectives on Termination with Clients with Complex Trauma
StressPoints

For many doctoral-level training programs, psychology trainees are limited to one year or less of therapeutic work with clients per clinical practicum rotation. This can be difficult for both students and clients alike, as transferring clients is not always clinically indicated and can seem abrupt and unnatural. It is estimated that 80% of student-clinicians must forcibly terminate with their patients, with more than 50% of these trainees reporting being inadequately prepared to terminate therapy (Zuckerman & Mitchell, 2004). Likewise, the duration of clinical rotations often requires clients to cope with the loss of a therapist each year. Due to many training sites using a sliding pay scale, individuals of lower socioeconomic status are disproportionately affected by the one-year training model (Aubry, Hunsley, Josephson, & Vito, 2000; Thompson, Graham, Brockberg, Chin, & Jones, 2017). Consequently, clients who fall within a lower socioeconomic status often become entrenched in the cycle of building intimacy and trust with a therapist and then “losing them” at the end of the training year. 

Trauma and World Literature: Thucydides on the Ancient Athenian Epidemic: Body, Mind, Society and Trauma‎
StressPoints
Thucydides, author of The History of the Peloponnesian War, is known for his compelling historical narrative and political analysis of the late fifth century (431– 404 BCE) war between Athens and Sparta. Centuries of thinkers have praised Thucydides as the first historian to be rigorous in his research—especially when compared with his predecessor Herodotus—and realistic in his analysis of power.