Journal of traumatic stress
-
This study assessed the contribution of baseline psychological symptoms, combat exposure, and unit support in the etiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and psychological distress. From 2004-2006, 67% of a random sample of 2,820 participants who had been assessed for psychological symptoms in 2002 were reassessed. ⋯ Adjustment for baseline psychological symptoms did not modify the pattern of association of group cohesion and combat exposures. The authors concluded that combat exposure and group cohesion have an effect on mental health outcomes independent of previous mental health status, which explains why screening prior to deployment is ineffective.
-
Comparative Study
Longitudinal linkages between perceived social support and posttraumatic stress symptoms: sequential roles of social causation and social selection.
The authors examined social causation and social selection explanations for the association between perceptions of social support and psychological distress. Data came from a sample of 557 victims of natural disaster in Mexico. ⋯ Only social selection (more PTSD leading to less social support) accounted for the support-to-distress relationship at 18 to 24 months after the event. Interpersonal and social dynamics of disasters may explain why these two contrasting causal mechanisms emerged over time.
-
Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Pilot study on prolonged exposure of Japanese patients with posttraumatic stress disorder due to mixed traumatic events.
This pilot study investigated the feasibility of Prolonged Exposure (PE) treatment for Japanese patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to mixed traumatic events. Among 12 participants in this study, 9 women and 1 man completed between 9 and 15 weekly individual PE sessions; 2 female participants dropped out in early sessions. ⋯ Symptom levels remained low in 3- and 6-month follow-up assessments. Our findings suggest that PE is feasible and can be accepted for PTSD patients not only in Western countries, but also for those in Japan.
-
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been estimated to affect up to 18% of returning Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) veterans. Soldiers need to maintain constant vigilance to deal with unpredictable threats, and an unprecedented number of soldiers are surviving serious wounds. ⋯ Following brief VRE treatment, the veteran demonstrated improvement in PTSD symptoms as indicated by clinically and statistically significant changes in scores on the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS; Blake et al., 1990) and the PTSD Symptom Scale Self-Report (PSS-SR; Foa, Riggs, Dancu, & Rothbaum, 1993). These results indicate preliminary promise for this treatment.