Trauma Blog

Developmental Traumatology: Trauma and Fetal Alcohol Exposure: Neurodevelopmental ‎Implications
StressPoints
As awareness of how childhood trauma affects neurodevelopment grows, questions arise about symptom complexity and how neurodevelopment is affected by other comorbid conditions. Youth exposed to toxic stress from early, severe and/or chronic maltreatment can show alterations in brain structure and connectivity that impact cognition, emotion regulation and stress reactivity (Teicher & Samson, 2016). However, neurodevelopment is also influenced by genetics and other types of adversity, including in utero exposure to substances. As child maltreatment co-occurs frequently with parental substance use and prenatal alcohol exposure, understanding the relationship between the two is important to differential diagnosis and treatment.

Lifelong trauma sequelae: Complex PTSD in a new lifespan model
In addition to the core symptoms of “classic” PTSD, patients with complex PTSD are also affected by specific disturbances in self-organization. A couple of theoretical ideas exist on the development of complex PTSD. However, there are still few empirically tested models. ​The developmental model of this study focuses on specific risk factors that are associated with the full range of symptoms of complex PTSD, such as the type and extent of trauma and maltreatment in childhood, attachment difficulties, and social-interpersonal processes.

SIG Spotlight: ISTSS Trauma & Technology Special Interest Group
StressPoints
Technology has been integrated into research and clinical services for traumatic stress populations for decades. However, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an exponential shift to virtual work for many researchers, clinicians and health care providers as they continued to enroll participants in ongoing research, engage patients in trauma-informed mental health services, or conduct other day-to-day responsibilities. This global health crisis presented a critical need for mental health service systems to make digital health resources available and accessible to individuals following traumatic events.

Research Methods: Elevating LGBTQ+ Individuals Voices Through a Mixed-Methods Approach
StressPoints
Individuals with diverse and multiple marginalized identities are often underrepresented in psychological research, and it is crucial to fill this gap in the literature and provide insight into the different contextual factors affecting these populations (Roberts et al., 2020). 

President's Message
StressPoints
This is my final StressPoints column as ISTSS President, and I would like to highlight that serving in this role over the past year has been a privilege and an honor. I would like to also take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to all those who supported me in this (unexpected) role over the past year.

Military Matters: The Other Battle Borne by Female Veterans
StressPoints
On March 4, 1865, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln made a commitment to veterans, "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan." In Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals across the United States, these words have welcomed veterans. For military service members returning to civilian life, the words can evoke a sense of belonging and homecoming to something greater than themselves. Some years ago, as an honorably discharged female Airman, I walked past these words when I sought treatment at my local VA. Except I did not feel a sense of belonging or homecoming. Instead, I felt an all-too-familiar sting of invalidation and rejection. These words did not welcome me; they welcomed "him." Thousands of women veterans walk past these words every day, enduring a small slight in the larger struggle to be acknowledged.

Student Perspectives: Traumatic Stress Following Severe Injury: Providing Care in a Level 1 Trauma Center’s ‎Traumatic Injury Unit
StressPoints
Unfortunately, people who sustain a traumatic injury are at an increased risk for numerous mental health conditions including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety (Wiseman et al., 2013). PTSD prevalence rates are higher among individuals hospitalized for traumatic injury compared to the general population with estimates ranging between 26% to 31% (Joseph et al., 2020; Shih et al., 2010). 

Trauma and World Literature: A Tragedy (in One Act) By Christian Scott Green
StressPoints
As contributing editors of this column, we have always encouraged submissions from writers and students of Literature. In this issue, we are pleased to present an offering from musician and poet Christian Scott Green. The author has provided an introductory statement which describes the inspiration for his poem and shares valuable insights into the process by which it was composed.