SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Stress Disorders, Traumatic”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1985

Post-traumatic stress disorder (traumatic war neurosis) and concurrent psychiatric illness among Australian Vietnam veterans. A controlled study.

Depression, anxiety, irritability with unpredictable explosions of aggressive behaviour, impulsivity, suicidal actions and substance abuse have been repeatedly observed among ex-servicemen from World War II in psychiatric treatment settings. In the most recent American Psychiatric Association classification of mental disorders the category of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was introduced, replacing the earlier Traumatic War Neurosis and the above cluster of symptoms were included as associated features of this disorder. Two recent uncontrolled studies on U.S. Vietnam veterans receiving psychiatric care supported the linkage of PTSD with these abnormalities. However, the present controlled study found these associated features occurred with equal frequencies among one group of psychiatrically hospitalised Australian Vietnam veterans with PTSD and another group not so afflicted. Reservations, then, should be harboured about ascribing all the presented psychopathology and behavioural abnormalities of ex-servicemen to the stress of their war service.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Brief psychological interventions ("debriefing") for trauma-related symptoms and the prevention of post traumatic stress disorder.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of brief psychological debriefing for the management of psychological distress after trauma, and the prevention of post traumatic stress disorder. SEARCH STRATEGY: Electronic searching of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychLit, PILOTS, Biosis, Pascal, Occ.Safety and Health, CDSR and the Trials Register of the Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis group. Hand search of Journal of Traumatic Stress. Contact with leading researchers. SELECTION CRITERIA: The inclusion criteria for all randomized studies was that they should focus on persons recently (one month or less) exposed to a traumatic event, should consist of a single session only, and that the intervention involve some form of emotional processing/ventilation by encouraging recollection/reworking of the traumatic event accompanied by normalisation of emotional reaction to the event. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: 8 trials fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Quality was generally poor. Data from two trials could not be synthesised. MAIN RESULTS: Single session individual debriefing did not reduce psychological distress nor prevent the onset of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Those who received the intervention showed no significant short term (3-5 months) in the risk of PTSD (pooled odds ratio 1.0, 95% ci 0.6-1.8). At one year one trial reported that there was a significantly increased risk of PTSD in those receiving debriefing (odds ratio 2.9, 95% ci 1.1-7.5). The pooled odds ratio for the two trials with follow ups just included unity (odds ratio 2.0, 95% ci 0.9-4.5). There was also no evidence that debriefing reduced general psychological morbidity, depression or anxiety. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: There is no current evidence that psychological debriefing is a useful treatment for the prevention of post traumatic stress disorder after traumatic incidents. Compulsory debriefing of victims of trauma should cease.

Crisis Intervention↗

PubMed1996

Post traumatic stress disorder.

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs after a person has been exposed to a traumatic event involving actual or threatened death, and has responded with intense fear or helplessness. The event is then persistently re-experienced. The person avoids stimuli associated with the trauma and experiences a numbing of general responsiveness. Symptoms of increased arousal can occur as well as depression and anxiety. PTSD causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The general practitioner is uniquely placed to identify PTSD and can have a key role in treatment. Cognitive behavioural treatment is a central therapeutic approach and can be carried out in general practice. The issues are to counteract the physiological components, expose the patient to the feared situation and help the patient to relearn that the stimuli are not necessarily associated with danger or threat. Repeated brief consultations over time can facilitate this process.

Antidepressive Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post traumatic stress disorder affects up to 1 per cent of the population, yet there are few specially trained nurses who are able to offer appropriate care and treatment. This article explores this condition, its treatment and the need for more suitably qualified nurses to fill this gap.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2001

Errors in diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder after traumatic brain injury.

Evidence to support the view that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after traumatic brain injury (TBI) continues to grow. However, the reported incidence of cases with both diagnoses ranges widely, from less than 1% to more than 50%. Given that the incidence of TBI is high, a more precise incidence has to be established if screening and treatment resources are to be considered. Are cases being missed or are they over-diagnosed? The single case report presented here does not definitively answer this question, but illustrates the potential shortcomings of diagnosing PTSD using questionnaire measures alone (Impact of Events Scale, Post-traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale and General Health Questionnaire) and indicates a need for a conjoint interview which takes into account the common effects of TBI and the symptom overlap between PTSD and TBI.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2000

Primary care treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder, a psychiatric disorder, arises following exposure to perceived life-threatening trauma. Its symptoms can mimic those of anxiety or depressive disorders, but with appropriate screening, the diagnosis is easily made. Current treatment strategies combine patient education; pharmacologic interventions, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, trazodone and clonidine; and psychotherapy. As soon after the trauma as possible, techniques to prevent the development of post-traumatic stress disorder, such as structured stress debriefings, should be administered. A high index of suspicion for post-traumatic stress disorder is needed in patients with a history of significant trauma.

Antidepressive Agents↗

PubMed1999

[How to prevent post-traumatic stress disorder before traumatization occurs?].

OBJECTIVE: To provide an update on methods of preventing the onset of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) before trauma occurs. METHOD: Survey and analysis of the literature (mainly articles) found in the Medline, Psychinfo, and Pilot databases. RESULTS: Most research focuses on identifying risk factors and reinforcing individual resistance as the prime means of preventing PTSD. The severity of the trauma is by far the most serious risk factor. To reinforce resistance and prevent the onset of PTSD, the army has favoured psychoeducational approaches. However, the literature survey has found no pretrauma prevention program for other high-risk occupations. CONCLUSION: The usefulness of identified risk factors for the primary prevention of PTSD is limited, since with the exception of the trauma itself, they play a minor role on the onset of severe-trauma PTSD. Psychoeducational approaches aimed at reinforcing the resistance of individuals at risk are promising, but their potential has to be further explored in individuals in high-risk trades. Finally, it has been suggested that other avenues of research in the primary prevention (pretrauma) of PTSD be explored. These include the identification of possible protection factors, the influence of genetic make-up and of biological variables, the cumulative effects of exposure to stressors, and the presence of chronic stressors.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1997

The eight-item treatment-outcome post-traumatic stress disorder scale: a brief measure to assess treatment outcome in post-traumatic stress disorder.

This preliminary report describes a new brief interview based assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder using an 8-item treatment-outcome post-traumatic stress disorder scale (TOP-8). The TOP-8 was developed from a larger post-traumatic stress disorder evaluation scale based on items which occurred frequently in the population and which responded substantially to treatment across time. The 8 resultant items were drawn from all three symptom clusters for post-traumatic stress disorder, and showed an improved ability to detect drug versus placebo differences in comparison with the original scale. The eight-item treatment-outcome post-traumatic stress disorder scale also correlated significantly with a self-rated measure of post-traumatic stress disorder and distinguished at a highly significant level between responders and non-responders on an independently judged Clinical Global Impressions measure. The results of this study are discussed and future directions suggested.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

War trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a delayed reaction to an abnormal, traumatic life experience, such as combat, terrorism, an automobile or aircraft accident, a natural disaster, and physical, sexual or psychologic abuse. Major concerns exist about the use of medication in treating post-traumatic stress disorder. Patients suffering from the disorder appear to benefit from psychosocial therapy and spiritual support, in conjunction with medication.

Combat Disorders↗

PubMed1991

Delayed emergence of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the development of characteristic symptoms following a psychologically distressing event that is outside the range of usual human experience. A Chinese male with a delayed onset, non-combat post-traumatic stress disorder is described and discussed. This is an unusual case because the symptoms were reexperienced four years after a life threatening vehicular accident. The patient responded to a combination of antidepressant treatment and individual psychotherapy. He remained well on follow up one year later.

Accidents, Traffic↗

PubMed1993

Use of thioridazine in post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition that develops in persons who have experienced emotional or physical stress of sufficient magnitude to be extremely traumatic for virtually anyone. This may include natural catastrophes, combat experiences, rape, or other such horrifying events. The three major features of the disorder are reexperiencing the trauma through dreams, emotional numbing, and autonomic instability. To date, several treatment modalities have been used, usually consisting of a combination of psychotherapy and drug treatment. Although controversy exists, antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors are used most commonly, while other drugs such as lithium, carbamazepine, and antipsychotic drugs may be useful. We have reported a case involving a 44-year-old combat veteran who experienced severe flashbacks of his time spent in Vietnam. His symptoms and general state of mind improved significantly while taking the antipsychotic drug thioridazine.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Coping style and post-traumatic stress disorder following severe traumatic brain injury.

There is increasing evidence that a proportion of severe traumatically brain injured (TBI) patients do suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of PTSD following severe TBI in a sample of 96 patients who sustained a severe TBI, of whom 27% satisfied diagnostic criteria for PTSD. The Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Interview, the Coping Style Questionnaire, and the Functional Assessment Measure was administered to these patients 6 months after hospital discharge. Avoidant coping style, behavioural coping style, and a history of prior unemployment were the significant predictors of PTSD severity. These findings indicate that reduction of PTSD and management of severe TBI may be facilitated by teaching patients more adaptive coping strategies.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1996

Effect of repeated visual traumatic stimuli on the event related P3 brain potential in post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients are characterized by a hypersensitivity to traumatic stimuli which may be expressed as an automatic and involuntary cognitive response. Electrophysiologically this can be recorded as an augmented visual P3 (P300) event related potential (ERP). This study examined P3 changes in response to repeated traumatic pictorial stimuli presented in the form of a visual discrimination oddball paradigm to 40 Israeli combat veterans with and without PTSD. Subjects were asked to press a button when target stimuli (domestic animal pictures) appeared, and to ignore all non-target stimuli (irrelevant pictures of furnishings/flowers and traumatic combat related pictures). On average, P3 in response to combat related pictures was earlier and approximately 5 times greater in amplitude for the PTSD patients as compared to the controls. Repeated combat related pictures stimuli presentation resulted in a rapid and appreciable P3 amplitude reduction and latency prolongation. This effect was not observed for the target stimuli. These findings suggest that a gradually reduced amount of attentional resource is required and allocated to the processing of repeated CRP stimuli. This may occur as a consequence of the activation of an inhibitory mechanism related to the cognitive processing of traumatic stimuli.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[The epidemiology of post-traumatic stress disorders].

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been subjected to several epidemiological studies during the last 10 years. Large differences in prevalence between different studies can only partly be explained by differences in methodology, impact of the trauma and populations. Changes in diagnostic criteria, the stressor criteria, general mentality over time and cultural differences may account for some of the differences. In general populations a lifetime prevalence of PTSD of between 1% and 9% has been found. In unselected traumatized populations 20-45% will develop PTSD after exposure to significant traumas. Among soldiers who have participated in battles of war a PTSD prevalence of 15-20% has been found. After exposure to lesser traumas and among well-trained corps 5-10% develop PTSD. Over long periods the point prevalence of PTSD in a given traumatized population diminishes. Predictive factors related to PTSD are complex.

Combat Disorders↗

PubMed1993

Uncontrolled pain following physical injury as the core-trauma in post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric diagnostic category characterized by "the development of characteristic symptoms following a psychologically traumatic event that is generally outside the range of usual human experience". Research shows that the prevalence of PTSD among injured survivors of stressful events is higher than that of survivors without physical injury, thus suggesting that secondary stressors (e.g., severe uncontrolled pain, a prolonged state of acute anxiety, uncertainty regarding the immediate future, loss of control, and inability to monitor contact with the environment) may play an important role in the formation of PTSD. However, pain has never been suggested or recognized as a direct cause of PTSD. We present the case of a patient who lost an eye under traumatic circumstances and was later diagnosed as suffering from PTSD. Upon evaluation in a psychophysiological laboratory, this patient's core-trauma was discovered to be 7 h of severe uncontrolled pain while waiting for surgery, rather than the moment when he lost his eye during military service. The case suggests that pain, although not "generally outside the range of usual human experience", may be a strong enough stressor in traumatic circumstances to cause the development of PTSD, thus highlighting the importance of prompt and adequate pain management in hospitalized survivors of traumatic injury.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Response to venlafaxine in a previously antidepressant treatment-resistant combat veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is frequently treated with antidepressant medications, especially the newer selective serotonergic antidepressants which have documented efficacy in PTSD. Analogous to depression, however, some PTSD patients may not have a satisfactory response to these agents. This case report describes a PTSD patient who did not respond to several serotonergic antidepressants, but did improve with venlafaxine which has both noradrenergic and serotonergic properties.

Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation↗

PubMed1992

Drug therapy of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a recently introduced diagnosis. The disorder is quite common, yet often unrecognised, and leads to significant morbidity or mortality. Effective treatment often entails use of psychotropic medication. Only recently has this become apparent, and awareness of the role of drug therapy in PTSD remains limited. A number of studies have indicated efficacy for antidepressant, mood-stabilising, anticonvulsant and antianxiety medications. This review describes the role of pharmacotherapy, by examining issues of diagnosis and recognition of PTSD, the theoretical basis for drug use, goals of drug treatment, dose ranges, and clinical application of psychotropic drugs.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Behavioural treatments in post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is increasingly becoming recognised as a serious mental health problem (Department of Health, 1991). Psychological treatments for PTSD remain in their infancy, though limited research has demonstrated the efficacy of behavioural and cognitive-behavioural interventions.

Adult↗