Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Associated With Unexpected Death Of A Loved One: Cross-National Findings From The World Mental Health Surveys, Lukoye Atwoli, Dan J. Stein, Andrew King, Maria Petukhova, Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, Jordi Alonso, Evelyn J. Bromet, Giovanni De Girolamo, Koen Demyttenaere, Silvia Florescu

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Unexpected death of a loved one (UD) is the most commonly reported traumatic experience in cross‐national surveys. However, much remains to be learned about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after this experience. The WHO World Mental Health (WMH) survey initiative provides a unique opportunity to address these issues.

Methods: Data from 19 WMH surveys (n = 78,023; 70.1% weighted response rate) were collated. Potential predictors of PTSD (respondent sociodemographics, characteristics of the death, history of prior trauma exposure, history of prior mental disorders) after a representative sample of UDs were examined using logistic regression. Simulation was used to estimate overall …

Return To Play After Cervical Spine Injuries: A Consensus Of Opinion., John C. France, Michael Karsy, James S. Harrop, Andrew T. Dailey

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Study Design Survey. Objective Sports-related spinal cord injury (SCI) represents a growing proportion of total SCIs but lacks evidence or guidelines to guide clinical decision-making on return to play (RTP). Our objective is to offer the treating physician a consensus analysis of expert opinion regarding RTP that can be incorporated with the unique factors of a case for clinical decision-making. Methods Ten common clinical scenarios involving neurapraxia and stenosis, atlantoaxial injury, subaxial injury, and general cervical spine injury were presented to 25 spine surgeons from level 1 trauma centers for whom spine trauma is a significant component of their practice. …

Associations Between Lifetime Potentially Traumatic Events And Chronic Physical Conditions In The South African Stress And Health Survey: A Cross-Sectional Study, Lukoye Atwoli, Jonathan M. Platt, Archana Basu, David R. Williams, Dan J. Stein, Karestan C. Koenen

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: This study examined the association between the type, and cumulative number of lifetime potentially traumatic events (PTEs), and chronic physical conditions, in a South African sample. PTE exposures have been associated with an increased risk for a wide range of chronic physical conditions, but it is unclear whether psychiatric disorders mediate this association. Given the established differences in trauma occurrence, and the epidemiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in South Africa relative to other countries, examining associations between PTEs and chronic physical conditions, particularly while accounting for psychiatric comorbidity is important.

Methods: Data were drawn from the South African …

A Novel Adaptation Of A Parent-Child Observational Assessment Tool For Appraisals And Coping In Children Exposed To Acute Trauma, Meghan L. Marsac, Nancy Kassam-Adams

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Background: Millions of children worldwide are exposed to acute potentially traumatic events (PTEs) annually. Many children and their families experience significant emotional distress and/or functional impairment following PTEs. While current research has begun to highlight a role for early appraisals and coping in promoting or preventing full recovery from PTEs, the exact nature of the relationships among appraisals, coping, and traumatic stress reactions as well as how appraisals and coping behaviors are influenced by the child's environment (e.g., parents) remains unclear; assessment tools that reach beyond self-report are needed to improve this understanding.

Objective: The objective of the current study …

Uchunguzi (Journal Watch/Montre De Journal) September 2016, Benjamin Wachira

Emergency Medicine, East Africa

Most states in the USA have ‘Good Samaritan’ laws that oblige doctors to stop and render emergency treatment under certain circumstances, without incurring legal liability even if they are negligent. Whether doctors are legally obliged to stop and render assistance at road accidents in most countries across the world remains controversial. In 1978, the South African Medical and Dental Council ruled that ‘in cases of emergency a practitioner is obliged to render assistance in all circumstances’. It has therefore been said that ‘where persons are in a situation where their life or health will be seriously endangered unless they receive …

A Review Of The Relation Between Dissociation, Memory, Executive Functioning And Social Cognition In Military Members And Civilians With Neuropsychiatric Conditions, Margaret C. Mckinnon, Jenna E. Boyd, Paul A. Frewen, Ulrich F. Lanius, Rakesh Jetly, Don Richardson, Ruth A. Lanius

MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre

Dissociative experiences, involving altered states of consciousness, have long been understood as a consequence or response to traumatic experiences, where a reduced level of consciousness may aid in survival during and after a traumatic event. Indeed, the dissociative subtype of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD-DS) was added recently to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). Dissociative symptoms are present across a host of neuropsychiatric conditions, including PTSD, psychotic spectrum illnesses, anxiety and mood disorders. Transdiagnostically, the presence of dissociative symptoms is associated with a greater illness burden and reduced treatment outcomes. Critically, dissociative symptoms are related …

Stepped Care Versus Standard Trauma‐Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Young Children, Alison Salloum, Wei Wang, John Robst, Tanya K. Murphy, Michael S. Scheeringa, Judith A. Cohen, Eric A. Storch

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background

To compare the effectiveness and cost of stepped care trauma‐focused cognitive behavioral therapy (SC‐TF‐CBT), a new service delivery method designed to address treatment barriers, to standard TF‐CBT among young children who were experiencing posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS).

Methods

A total of 53 children (ages 3–7 years) who were experiencing PTSS were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive SC‐TF‐CBT or TF‐CBT. Assessments by a blinded evaluator occurred at screening/baseline, after Step One for SC‐TF‐CBT, posttreatment, and 3‐month follow‐up. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01603563.

Results

There were comparable improvements over time in PTSS and secondary outcomes in both conditions. Noninferiority of SC‐TF‐CBT …

Paucity Of Trauma Literature From A Highly Burdened Developing Country, Rizwan Sultan, Hasnain Zafar

Department of Surgery

Abstract Introduction: Trauma is the leading cause of death among a younger population not only in USA but in Pakistan as well. The high prevalence of disease should result in a larger amount of data and a larger number of publications resulting in the ability to explore improvements in the field. This study aimed to review the trauma literature generated from Pakistan. Methods: Journals indexed with PubMed from January 2010 to December 2014 were searched using the search term ‘‘Trauma AND Pakistan’’ filtering for relevant dates and human reports only. The abstracts and articles were reviewed by the authors to …

Uchunguzi (Journal Watch/Montre De Journal) March 2016, Benjamin Wachira

Emergency Medicine, East Africa

Increasing demand on emergency healthcare systems throughout Africa means there is a need to develop and harmonise standards of emergency care for the benefit of African populations. This can potentially be achieved by developing guidelines for appropriate and high quality education to prepare future generations of emergency healthcare providers for their role in all regions of Africa. With this in mind, the African Emergency Nursing Curriculum was developed by emergency nurses, academics and researchers from Africa and the rest of the world to provide a consensus document to guide the development of harmonised standards of emergency nursing theory and practice …

Return To Play After Cervical Spine Injuries: A Consensus Of Opinion, John C. France, Michael Karsy, James S. Harrop, Andrew T. Dailey

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Study Design: Survey. Objective: Sports-related spinal cord injury (SCI) represents a growing proportion of total SCIs but lacks evidence or guidelines to guide clinical decision-making on return to play (RTP). Our objective is to offer the treating physician a consensus analysis of expert opinion regarding RTP that can be incorporated with the unique factors of a case for clinical decision-making. Methods: Ten common clinical scenarios involving neurapraxia and stenosis, atlantoaxial injury, subaxial injury, and general cervical spine injury were presented to 25 spine surgeons from level 1 trauma centers for whom spine trauma is a significant component of their practice. …

The Epidemiology Of Traumatic Event Exposure Worldwide: Results From The World Mental Health Survey Consortium, Corina Benjet, E Bromet, E G. Karam, R C. Kessler, K A. Mclaughlin, A M. Ruscio, V Shahly, D J. Stein, M Petukhova, E Hill, J Alonso, Lukoye Atwoli, B Bunting, R Bruffaerts, J M. Caldas-De-Almeida

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Considerable research has documented that exposure to traumatic events has negative effects on physical and mental health. Much less research has examined the predictors of traumatic event exposure. Increased understanding of risk factors for exposure to traumatic events could be of considerable value in targeting preventive interventions and anticipating service needs.

Method: General population surveys in 24 countries with a combined sample of 68 894 adult respondents across six continents assessed exposure to 29 traumatic event types. Differences in prevalence were examined with cross-tabulations. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to determine whether traumatic event types clustered into interpretable factors. …

Demographic Characteristics And Trauma Symptomology In Juvenile Justice Residents At Echo Glen Children's Center, Britta L. Bergan

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Exposure to traumatic and stressful events has become increasingly commonplace and the impact of such experiences has been well documented. Trauma events in childhood have been associated with a number of factors, including maladaptive emotional and behavioral responses, increased vulnerability for exposure to additional traumatic events, and adverse experiences later in life. Juvenile justice youth have been found to have higher rates of trauma exposure, when compared to community samples of same-aged peers. The population of youth residing at Echo Glen Children’s Center, in Snoqualmie, Washington, exhibit unique characteristics for a juvenile justice population, including age (the youngest juvenile offenders …

Experiencing The Death Of A Formerly Abusive Parent, Heather Spence

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

It is well documented that approximately 25–33% of children experience abuse, many of those at the hands of a primary caretaker. Within the literature on child maltreatment, there exists a paucity of research about the long-term effects of early maltreatment on adult attachments with the previous abuser, including the experiences of adults who experience the death of their previous caretakers. Additionally, most of the research on grief and bereavement assumes positive affect for the deceased by survivors. This dissertation is an in-depth examination of five adults, aged 50–70 years old, who experienced the recent death of a parent or stepparent …