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Platyniuk O. B. Formation mechanisms of non-psychotic mental disorders in injured combatants as a basis of psychotherapy. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2020;10(12):359-364. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2020.10.12.035 https://apcz.umk.pl/czasopisma/index.php/JEHS/article/view/JEHS.2020.10.12.035 https://zenodo.org/record/4741003 The journal has had 5 points in Ministry of Science and Higher Education parametric evaluation. § 8. 2) and § 12. 1. 2) 22.02.2019. © The Authors 2020; This article is published with open access at Licensee Open Journal Systems of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author (s) and source are credited. This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non commercial license Share alike. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) which permits unrestricted, non commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper. Received: 09.11.2020. Revised: 25.11.2020. Accepted: 29.12.2020. FORMATION MECHANISMS OF NON-PSYCHOTIC MENTAL DISORDERS IN INJURED COMBATANTS AS A BASIS OF PSYCHOTHERAPY O. B. Platyniuk Kharkiv National Medical University, Ukraine Abstract Today 16.2% of the world’s population suffers from the consequences of military conflicts. In 80% of people affected by hostilities, the consequences of combat trauma are non-psychotic mental disorders. According to the data obtained during the study, the following non-psychotic disorders were found in examined combatants: acute stress reaction (F43.0) in 36.2% of subjects, PTSD (F43.1) in 32.1%, prolonged depressive adjustment reaction (F43.21) in 11.3%, adjustment disorder with anxiety (F43.22) in 12.2%, depressive episode (F32.1, F32.2) in 8.2% of subjects. 145 male injured combatants aged 20 – 55 y. o. were examined at the Military Medical Clinical Center of the Northern Region. Methods: clinical psychopathological, clinical anamnestic, psychodiagnostic, catamnestic, statistical. According to the results of Clinically administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), clinically pronounced manifestations of PTSD were noted in examined combatants (frequency of PTSD symptoms: 33.9 ± 3.6 points, intensity: 32.2 ± 5.5 points, and total severity of symptoms: 67.1 ± 6.9 points). According to the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) in the surveyed combatants, a high level of impact of the traumatic event was observed by scales of invasion (77.8% of surveyed), avoidance (62.9%) and physiological excitability (72.2%). Against the background of using the developed program there were a positive dynamics of mental state (86.9% of respondents), a decrease in anxiety (85.6%) and depression (82.2%), and a decrease level of PTSD symptoms by Impact of Event Scale (IES-R) (79.8%). Key words: combatants; injuries; non-psychotic mental disorders; psychotherapy; psychoeducation.

The transitional impact scale (TIS) was developed to measure the quality and quantity of changes brought about by transitional events. The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the TIS. Study 1 investigated the validity and internal consistency of the TIS among 445 participants (aged 18-73 years) who completed the TIS, beck anxiety inventory (BAI), centrality of event scale (CES), impact of event scale-revised (IES-R), and post-traumatic growth inventory. Study 2 investigated the test-retest reliability of the TIS among 140 university students (70 female; 70 male) who completed a retest of the TIS after a 2-week interval. The two-factor structure (i.e., material change and psychological change) of the TIS proposed by Svob et al. (2014) was confirmed in different age and socioeconomic status groups of a Turkish sample. The TIS was significantly correlated with the BAI, CES, and IES-R. Finally, the TIS had a high test-retest reliability.

Aim: While it is known that being mechanically restrained during hospitalization can, in severe cases, lead to PTSD in individuals with mental illness, less is known about why some develop posttraumatic stress reactions following restraint while others do not. This study examined whether the amount ofexposure to mechanical restraint and patients’ interpretations of the episodes’ centrality to their identity were related to symptoms of PTSD in individuals with schizophrenia. Methods: We asked 20 individuals to recall mechanical restraint episodes and rate them on centrality to identity. They also completed scales measuring symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, trauma history, and were rated on positive and negative symptoms. Objective information about thenumber of times they had been restrained was obtained through Danish health registries. Results: Amount of exposure to mechanical restraint was not significantly related to PTSD symptoms, potentially due to limitations of our small sample. However, interpreting episodes as more central toidentity was. This relationship remained significant when controlling for trauma history, positive symptoms, and depression. Conclusion: The results suggest that clinically significant levels of PTSD are common in this population,and that considering patients’ subjective interpretations of restraint episodes, and not merely the objective facts surrounding them is important for patients’ psychological adjustment. Aim While it is known that being mechanically restrained during hospitalization can, in severe cases, lead to PTSD in individuals with mental illness, less is known about why some develop posttraumatic stress reactions following restraint while others do not. This study examined whether the amount of exposure to mechanical restraint and patients' interpretations of the episodes' centrality to their identity were related to symptoms of PTSD in individuals with schizophrenia. Methods We asked 20 individuals to recall mechanical restraint episodes and rate them on centrality to identity. They also completed scales measuring symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, trauma history, and were rated on positive and negative symptoms. Objective information about the number of times they had been restrained was obtained through Danish health registries. Results Amount of exposure to mechanical restraint was not significantly related to PTSD symptoms, potentially due to limitations of our small sample. However, interpreting episodes as more central to identity was. This relationship remained significant when controlling for trauma history, positive symptoms, and depression. Conclusion The results suggest that clinically significant levels of PTSD are common in this population, and that considering patients' subjective interpretations of restraint episodes, and not merely the objective facts surrounding them is important for patients' psychological adjustment.

Background: This study examines changes over time in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among children who survived the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and the relevant predictive variables.Methods: A total of 203 children and adolescents were investigated 24 months after the earthquake, and 151 children and adolescents completed the 1-year follow-up study. Participants completed the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-13), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the predictors of changes in PTSD severity.Results: Eighty percent of the children still had some PTSD symptoms 2 years after the Wenchuan earthquake, and 66.25% of the children had symptoms that lasted 3 years. In the model predicting PTSD symptom severity, the loss of family members and child burial explained a significant 21.9% of the variance, and depression explained a significant 16.7% of the variance. In the model predicting changes in PTSD severity, the change scores for resilience and depression explained a significant 18.7% of the variance, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) explained a significant 33.6% of the variance.Conclusions: PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents can persist for many years after trauma. In addition to using psychological interventions to improve PTSD symptoms, improvements in depression and resilience should also be considered.

Background As any traumatic event, avalanches could trigger psychological disorders on survivors. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among avalanche survivors and to evaluate post-traumatic stress disorder risks factors as well as the impact on quality of life. Methods A multicentre study was conducted in victims included in the North Alpine Avalanche Registry from 2014 to 2018. Data were collected through a standard questionnaire during semi-directed phone interviews. The primary outcome was the total score on the Impact of Event Scale Revised. Secondary outcomes were the Mental Component Scale and the Physical Component Scale scores of the Short Form 12 questionnaire. Results During the study period, 132 of 211 victims survived. Among the 107 victims included, 55 (51.4%) phone interviews were obtained. Six patients (10.9, 95% CI 1.76–20.05) had an Impact of Event Scale Revised score ≥ 33 indicating a strong probability for post-traumatic stress disorder. Median Mental Component Scale score was 39.0 (IQR 30.5–46.3) for post-traumatic stress disorder patients and 40.1 (IQR 36.5–43.4) for non post-traumatic stress disorder (p = 0.76). Median Physical Component Scale score was 39.4 (37.2–44.3) for post-traumatic stress disorder patients and 44.2 (39.1–46.8) for non post-traumatic stress disorder (p = 0.39). No significant difference in the quality of life in both populations was observed, and no independent risk factors of post-traumatic stress disorder was identified. Conclusion Avalanche accidents may induce post-traumatic stress disorders among survivors in a comparable prevalence to the most traumatic event already studied. Early recognition and preventive measures should be set up in order to reduce the psychological burden in these victims. Trial registration NCT03936738.

Objective: We aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of the psychological stress experienced by healthcare workers, frontline workers, and the general public and to assess the factors associated with psychological stress in each of these groups.Methods: We conducted an online survey targeting healthcare workers, frontline workers, and the general public. Psychological stress was assessed with the revised impact of event scale (IES-R). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted.Results: We surveyed 1,336 participants (64.6% female; mean age, 36.6). The occupation group distribution of respondents was 50.7% healthcare workers, 27.2% frontline workers, and 22.1% general public. The healthcare (23.6 ± 15.8) and frontline (23.6 ± 17.8) workers had higher IES-R scores than the general public (15.3 ± 10.6; p < 0.01). Poor health perception and perception of infection avoidance were associated with psychological stress in the healthcare and frontline workers, but not in the general public.Conclusion: Both healthcare and frontline workers are suffering elevated psychological stress, compared to the general public, and this elevated stress may be related especially to their perceptions of their own health and infection risk. Interventions addressing these factors should be developed to alleviate psychological stress in these populations, and thus reduce their risk of mental illness pathogenesis.

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of psychological counselling on victims with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from the Rana Plaza tragedy. Data was collected from two different groups using the Impact of Event Scale translated and validated in Bengali. Participants of one group consist of 50 who received life skills training and the other group of 71 who had no such training. PTSD was significantly reduced in both groups of the participants after receiving 6 consecutive sessions of psychological counselling, t(120) = 17.11, p

The study intended to see the impact of infertility on experience of emotional trauma, belief pattern and formation of psychopathology and also to explore the psychopathology with respect to degree of infertility related stress impact among male, female and unexplained factor infertility in couples suffering from primary infertility.This was a clinic-based, cross-sectional comparative study based on a consecutive sampling method.Sixty couples were studied of whom 10 couples had male-related infertility (MF), 10 had female-related infertility (FF) and 10 unexplained infertility (UF). Another 30 fertile couples were also included as comparative group (CG) after matching on certain sociodemographic variables with the clinical groups.Impact of Event Scale, Symptom Checklist-90 Revised and Irrational Belief Scale were used.The impact of emotional trauma and irrational belief was greatest in the male-related infertility couples, and somatisation in the unexplained group, whereas depression and interpersonal sensitivity were higher in the female-related infertility couples. An impact of moderate to severe infertility-related stress on depression and irrational beliefs was also observed. Gender difference was evident with respect to psychopathology and types of infertility.The impact of infertility is evident with respect to psychopathology with differential impact of various types of infertility groups among Indian couples.

The present study showed that the frequency of post‐traumatic stress disorder was 9.3% at 1 month after bereavement among Japanese relatives of sudden death victims after an intervention. This frequency was minimal compared with previous reports., Aim To investigate the prospective frequency of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among relatives of sudden death patients following provision of a pamphlet explaining the stages of the complicated grief process and self‐regulating techniques. Methods From May 2017 to February 2018, we prospectively and consecutively provided a pamphlet to relatives of out‐of‐hospital sudden cardiac arrest victims who failed to obtain spontaneous circulation. We investigated the psychiatric status of the bereaved relatives using the Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES‐R). An IES‐R score over 24 was defined as PTSD. Results Fifty‐four relatives of the 54 dead patients (victims) provided permission of entry to this research. All subjects and victims were Japanese. Among them, 24 subjects had an IES‐R score of 0 and 5 (9.3%) had PTSD approximately 1 month after their bereavement. There were no relatives who received spontaneous psychiatric treatment. The IES‐R scores for non‐medical cardiac arrest, death inquests, and parent variables were significantly higher compared with medical cardiac arrest, no inquest, and no parent, respectively. The IES‐R scores in those who were a child of the victim were significantly lower than in those who were not. Conclusion The present study showed that the frequency of PTSD was 9.3% at 1 month following bereavement among Japanese relatives of sudden death victims after an intervention. This frequency was minimal compared with previous reports.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, along with others in Italy, oncological patients had to put their life on hold, adjusting to the new restrictions and complying to the precautionary measures, some of which affected their participation in treatment programs and medical check-ups/health screening tests. The aim of this contribution is to investigate the extent to which the COVID-19 lockdown affected the above-mentioned participation in health screening tests and treatment programs, as well as to study the prodromal levels of PTSD in oncological patients in Italy during the lockdown. A survey consisting of Impact of Event Scale Revised (IES-R), items related to the diagnosis of patients and items regarding treatment and screening tests was shared across several channels. Five-hundred forty-four patients answered the survey. Compared to the screening tests, treatment programs were less affected by COVID-19 restrictions, only 5% of participants had the treatment postponed or interrupted, for the screening tests this number exceeded 30%. The results of linear regression analysis show that overall the level of distress that oncological patients suffered from represents the probable diagnosis of PTSD, with patients who had to stop their regular screening tests showing a higher level of distress compared to those who continued screening (β = 10.78, SE = 1.85, t = 5.84, p = 0.00). These results indicate the need to provide psychological support for oncological patients during future emergency management of catastrophic events such as a pandemic. Citation Format: Mariam Chichua, Eleonora Brivio, Serena Oliveri, Paolo Guiddi, Gabriella Pravettoni. PTSD and levels of general anxiety in Italian oncological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Meeting: COVID-19 and Cancer; 2021 Feb 3-5. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2021;27(6_Suppl):Abstract nr P40.

Emergency service workers are exposed to experienced traumatic events related to the nature of their work. The study aimed at identifying the role of cognitive processes, namely different forms of ruminations, as predictors of consequences of experienced trauma.The data on 120 medical rescuers (80 men, 40 women) who had experienced in their worksite at least 1 traumatic event in the last 5 years, were analyzed. The age of the participants ranged from 25 to 61 years (mean (M) = 38.07; standard deviation (SD) = 8.92). The following Polish versions of standardized tools were used: the Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R), the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) and the Event Related Rumination Inventory (ERRI).The results of regression analyses indicated 2 significant predictors, intrusive rumination for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and deliberate rumination for posttraumatic growth (PTG).Ruminations play an essential role in the occurrence of negative and positive outcomes of experienced trauma. The associations between PTSD and PTG, with different forms of ruminations, may be used in therapy, treating the appearance of intrusive rumination as an opportunity to turn towards active engagement in deliberate rumination, that facilitates the occurrence of posttraumatic growth. Med Pr 2016;67(2):201-211.Praca w służbach ratowniczych wiąże się z narażeniem na doświadczenia o charakterze traumatycznym. Celem badań było ustalenie roli procesów poznawczych, ściślej – różnych form ruminacji, jako predyktorów konsekwencji doświadczeń traumatycznych.Do udziału w badaniach zakwalifikowano 120 ratowników (80 mężczyzn, 40 kobiet), którzy w związku z pełnieniem obowiązków zawodowych potwierdzili wystąpienie w ostatnich 5 latach przynajmniej jednego zdarzenia traumatycznego. Wiek badanych wynosił 25–61 lat (średnia (mean – M) = 38,07, odchylenie standardowe (standard deviation – SD) = 8,92). W badaniach wykorzystano następujące polskie wersje standaryzowanych narzędzi: Zrewidowaną Skalę Wpływu Zdarzeń (Impact of Event Scale – Revised – IES-R), Inwentarz Potraumatycznego Rozwoju (Posttraumatic Growth Inventory – PTGI) oraz Inwentarz Ruminacji o Negatywnym Zdarzeniu (IRoNZ, Event Related Rumination Inventory – ERRI).Analiza regresji pozwoliła na wyznaczenie 2 predyktorów: ruminacji natrętnych dla zaburzeń po stresie traumatycznym (posttraumatic stress disorder – PTSD) i ruminacji refleksyjnych dla potraumatycznego wzrostu (posttraumatic growth – PTG).Ruminacje pełnią istotną funkcję w występowaniu zarówno negatywnych, jak i pozytywnych następstw doświadczonej traumy. Powiązania PTSD i PTG z odmiennymi formami ruminacji można wykorzystać w terapii, traktując pojawiające się ruminacje intruzywne jako okazję do uruchomienia ruminacji refleksyjnych, które ułatwiają wystąpienie potraumatycznego wzrostu. Med. Pr. 2016;67(2):201–211.

Background Working as a paramedic carries the risk of witnessing events and personal experiences associated with emergency life-threatening circumstances that may result in symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress. This problem is well known but still underestimated. Objectives The specific study objectives were to 1) assess the influence of sociodemographic and occupational factors on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among paramedics, and 2) suggest preventive strategies in this population. Methods This prospective, descriptive study examined a sample of 100 paramedics who agreed to complete the Author Questionnaire comprising demographic questions and the Impact of Event Scale – Revised. Results The total prevalence of PTSD in the examined group was 40.0% (women = 64.3%, men = 36.1%). It was more frequently reported in paramedics working under an employer's contract than among those who were self-employed. It occurred less frequently in persons with more education. Other sociodemographic factors studied showed no significant impact. A statistically significant effect of exposure to certain types of traumatic events on the incidence of PTSD was found. There was no significant correlation between the prevalence of PTSD and the occurrence of problem situations in respondents' workplaces. Conclusions Polish paramedics who agreed to take part in the survey were shown to have a high rate of PTSD. Multi-center screening and early supportive management is recommended.

The study aimed to establish the relationship between ruminations and the occurrence of negative (posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms) and positive (posttraumatic growth) effects of trauma resulting from the experience of violence in the family. The data of 89 women who have experienced domestic violence were analyzed. The participants’ age ranged from 18 to 60 years ( M = 34.36, SD = 12.81). The following Polish versions of standardized tools were used: the Impact of Event Scale, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and the Event-Related Rumination Inventory, the last of these measuring two types of ruminations: intrusive and deliberate. Both types of ruminations proved to be associated, above all, with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Weaker associations were noted between the intensity of deliberate ruminations and posttraumatic growth. Intrusive ruminations played a predictive role with regard to posttraumatic stress disorder: above all, with regard to intrusion and arousal; deliberate ruminations proved to be a predictor of posttraumatic growth, mainly positive changes in self-perception and relations with others. Ruminations play an essential role in the occurrence of both negative and positive outcomes of the experienced trauma.

Ruminations and effects of trauma in women experiencing domestic violence The study aimed to establish the relationship between ruminations and the occurrence of negative (posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms) and positive (posttraumatic growth) effects of trauma resulting from the experience of violence in the family. The data of 89 women who have experienced domestic violence were analyzed. The participants’ age ranged from 18 to 60 years ( M = 34.36, SD = 12.81). The following Polish versions of standardized tools were used: the Impact of Event Scale, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, and the Event-Related Rumination Inventory, the last of these measuring two types of ruminations: intrusive and deliberate. Both types of ruminations proved to be associated, above all, with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Weaker associations were noted between the intensity of deliberate ruminations and posttraumatic growth. Intrusive ruminations played a predictive role with regard to posttraumatic stress disorder: above all, with regard to intrusion and arousal; deliberate ruminations proved to be a predictor of posttraumatic growth, mainly positive changes in self-perception and relations with others. Ruminations play an essential role in the occurrence of both negative and positive outcomes of the experienced trauma.

Aim: This was a one-year follow-up of families referred to support services after the parents visited the emergency department due to intimate partner violence, substance abuse or a suicide attempt. Its aim was to evaluate the well-being of any children.Methods: Data on families identified a year earlier by the Amsterdam protocol were gathered from child protective services and parent and child self-reports in two Dutch regions from 2012-2015.Results: We included 399 children (52%) boys with a median age of eight years (range 1-18) in the study using child protective services data. Of the 101 families who participated in the first measurement, 67 responded one year after the parent's emergency department visit. The results showed that 20% of the children had no or minor problems, voluntary support services were involved in 60% of cases and child protective services were involved in 20%. Compared to their first assessment a year earlier, the children's psychosocial problems had not increased, but this could have been an underestimation due to selective responses.Conclusion: The Amsterdam protocol was valuable in referring families to voluntary support services, but given the ongoing problems in some families, professionals need to carefully monitor whether support services are sufficiently effective.

Objectives The emotional abuse of men by their partners has been acknowledged as an important form of partner abuse in domestic violence research. There is dearth of psychological research on alleged emotional abuse of males by their intimate partners. Methodology: The sample comprised of 150 heterosexual males (equal number of married and unmarried) in an intimate relationship aged 18-35 years. Emotional Abuse Questionnaire (EAQ; Gottman & Gottman, 2009) and Impact of Event Scale (Weiss & Marmar, 1997) were used. Results: Analysis of data showed that the intimate partner emotional abuse and PTSD were significantly correlated in both groups of males. The participants who were unmarried reported higher PTSD symptoms and emotional abuse than married men. Conclusion: Men who alleged to be the victims of intimate partner emotional abuse had higher symptoms of PTSD.

O artigo tem por objetivo rastrear sintomatologia de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) em profissionais que prestaram ajuda humanitária à população haitiana, após o terremoto de 2010. Estudo transversal. A sintomatologia de TEPT foi avaliada pela Escala Impacto do Evento - Revisada (IES-R). Os participantes foram 32 brasileiros (idade m = 37.58 +/- 7.01), 22 estadosunidenses (idade m = 33.67 +/- 8.03) e 12 equatorianos (idade m = 44.80 +/- 15.88) e não apresentaram sintomatologia de TEPT. A relação entre as variáveis experiência prévia em situação de desastre e escore total da IES-R [F(2) = 4.34, p = 0.017] bem como experiência prévia em situação de desastre e subescala intrusão [F(2) = 3.94, p = 0.024] foram significantes nos modelos de regressão linear. Experiência prévia se mostrou preditor significante para escore total da IES-R (p < 0,05). Os resultados demonstraram que vivências atuais podem ser potencializadas pelas memórias de experiências anteriores, aumentando a probabilidade de desenvolvimento de TEPT. Portanto, o cuidado com a saúde mental dos profissionais deve favorecer a precoce identificação do fator de risco experiência prévia, não permitindo que a iniciativa voluntária se sobreponha aos critérios seletivos e aos cuidados específicos. The scope of this article is to screen the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among the professionals who provided humanitarian aid for the Haitian population after the 2010 earthquake. It involvess a cross-sectional study. The Impact of Event Scale - Revised (IES-R) was used for screening symptoms of PTSD. The participants included 32 Brazilians (mean age = 37.58 +/-7.01), 22 Americans (mean age =33.67 +/-8.03) and 12 Ecuadorians (mean age = 44.80 +/- 15.88). The professionals did not have PTSD symptoms. The relationship between prior experience variables in disaster situations and the total score of the IES-R (F (2) = 4.34, p = 0.017), as well as prior experience in disaster situations and the intrusion subscale (F (2) = 3.94, p = 0.024) were significant in linear regression models. The number of prior experiences was revealed as a significant predictor for the total score of IES (p < 0.05). The results showed that current experiences can be exacerbated by memories of prior experiences, increasing the likelihood of developing PTSD. Therefore the mental health care of the professionals should foster the early identification of prior experience risk factors, thereby not permitting voluntary initiative to transcend selective criteria and specific care.

This study investigated the effect of bereavement (father death due to war in Afghanistan) on autobiographical memory specificity in Afghan adolescents living in Iran. Participants consisted of bereaved (n=70) and non-bereaved (n=33) Afghan adolescents. The measures included Farsi versions of the Autobiographical Memory Test, Mood and Feeling Questionnaire, Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale, and Impact of Event Scale. Results indicated that the bereaved group retrieved a significantly lower proportion of specific memories and a significantly greater proportion of extended and categoric memories than the non-bereaved group. Additionally, depression symptoms and reduced autobiographical memory specificity were significantly correlated. These findings suggest that bereaved adolescents have impaired autobiographical memory specificity.

Background Doctors are at particular risk of occupational needlestick injuries (NSI), and these may result in considerable acute anxiety and fear of disease transmission. Aims To measure the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among trainee doctors who had experienced an NSI. Methods A questionnaire was distributed to trainee doctors starting work in a large university hospital in the UK. The survey gathered demographic information and experience of previous NSI and included questions designed to assess the presence of PTSD via the Impact of Event Scale (IES), a widely used screening tool for PTSD. The six-item version of this tool (IES-6) was used in this study. Results Among the 147 doctors who participated, 80 (54%) had sustained at least one NSI during their training and 77 of these completed the IES-6 survey. Of note, 38% of injuries (30/80) were not reported to the occupational health or emergency departments. Using a cut-off level of 10 in the IES-6, 12% (9/77) of the doctors who suffered NSI during their training showed evidence of PTSD. Since the prevalence of PTSD in the general population is estimated at 3%, the odds ratio of PTSD in doctors who had NSI was 4.28 (95% confidence interval: 2.16-8.47). Conclusions NSI injury is common among doctors in training. As 12% of doctors with experience of NSI had post-traumatic stress reactions, special attention should be paid to psychological impacts of NSIs. We would recommend further prospective studies.

The purpose of the research was to investigate the role of personal resources, such as optimism and sense of selfefficacy in both negative (posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms) and positive (posttraumatic growth - PTG) effects of experienced trauma in a group of emergency service representatives.Data of 100 medical rescue workers, mostly men (59%) who have experienced traumatic events in their worksite were analyzed. The age of the participants ranged from 24 to 60 years (mean = 37.43; standard deviation = 8.73). Polish versions of the Impact of Event Scale - Revised and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory were used to assess the negative and positive effects of experienced events. Optimism was assessed by the Life Orientation Test and sense of self-efficacy by the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale.The obtained results revealed that optimism is negatively associated with symptoms of PTSD in men, and sense of self-efficacy - positively with the severity of growth after trauma in women.The analyzed personal resources play a diverse role in the emergence of negative and positive effects of experienced traumatic events, depending on the gender of the respondents. Med Pr 2016;67(5):635-644.Celem podjętych badań było ustalenie roli zasobów osobistych, takich jak optymizm i poczucie własnej skuteczności, w występowaniu negatywnych (objawy stresu pourazowego (posttraumatic stress disorder – PTSD)) i pozytywnych (potraumatyczny wzrost (posttraumatic growth – PTG)) skutków doświadczeń traumatycznych wśród przedstawicieli służb ratowniczych.Analizie poddano wyniki 100 ratowników medycznych (59% mężczyzn), którzy doświadczyli zdarzeń traumatycznych w związku z wykonywaną pracą. Wiek badanych wynosił 24–60 lat (średnia = 37,43; odchylenie standardowe = 8,73). Do oceny negatywnych skutków doświadczanych zdarzeń wykorzystano Skalę Wpływu Zdarzeń, a pozytywnych – Inwentarz Potraumatycznego Rozwoju. Optymizm oceniano za pomocą Testu Orientacji Życiowej, a poczucie własnej skuteczności – Uogólnionej Skali Własnej Skuteczności.Stwierdzono, że optymizm jest ujemnie powiązany z objawami zespołu stresu pourazowego w grupie mężczyzn, a poczucie własnej skuteczności – dodatnio z nasileniem wzrostu po traumie w grupie kobiet.Analizowane zasoby osobiste pełnią zróżnicowaną funkcję w pojawianiu się negatywnych i pozytywnych skutków doświadczanych zdarzeń traumatycznych w zależności od płci badanych. Med. Pr. 2016;67(5):635–644.

Context: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most common consequence of traumatic experiences. The North Central Nigeria to which Plateau State belongs has witnessed many ethno‑religious crises. While previous studies suggested a high prevalence of PTSD among students, to the best of our knowledge, no such study has been reported in Nigeria.Aims: The study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of PTSD among medical students in a university.Materials and Methods: Cross‑sectional systematic random sampling was used to select 200 medical students. A two staged interview with questionnaire on sociodemographic variables, PTSD Checklist‑Civilian Version, Impact of Event Scale, and Composite International Diagnostic Interview was carried out. Statistical Analysis Used: SPSS Inc. Released 2007. SPSS for Windows, version 16.0. Chicago, SPSS Inc. was used for statistical analysis.Results: Prevalence of PTSD among the students was 23.5%. Previous childhood trauma and personal experiences during the crisis were significantly associated with having PTSD.Conclusions: High prevalence rate of PTSD among medical students in Jos is an indicator of psychological consequences of the recurring crises on the inhabitants. There is a need for follow‑up and counseling/trauma healing for those identified.Keywords: Correlates, Jos, medical students, posttraumatic stress disorder, prevalence

International audience; Working with street children and adolescents who lived through the 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince, this paper aims to assess the prevalence of symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression in relation to peritraumatic distress, and age, and to explore other risk factors and socio-demographic characteristics, four years after the events. Between March and June 2014, with a sample of 128 children and adolescents (120 boys and 8 girls) aged between 7 and 18, of an average age of 13.88 (SD = 2.15), all living on the streets of Port-au-Prince, we used the following scales: the Trauma Exposure (TE), the Life Events Subscale of the CAPS; the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI); the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-13) and the Children Depression Inventory (CDI); (BAI). Our study reveals a high prevalence of PTSD, depression and anxiety among street children. It also demonstrates that this prevalence is lower than that of several other groups of children who were also victims of the 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince. Children living in the streets for economic reasons presented a lower prevalence of symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression than those who were on the streets as a result of psychological or physical abuse within their own families, in adoptive families or in children's homes. This study demonstrates the importance of care provision for these children in terms of helping them develop coping and resilience strategies. It also stresses the importance of providing them with nonviolent living environments and opportunities to facilitate their return to normality.

Nurses can experience secondary traumatic events while caring for patients. However, the severity of this issue is underestimated in Japan. To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with secondary traumatic stress among general hospital nurses, we carried out a cross-sectional study at a general hospital in August 2006. The rate of experiencing secondary trauma was 90.3% (159 of 176 nurses; 52.1% response rate). The median score of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised was 4.0 (range, 0-56). In multiple regression analyses, variables correlated with the Impact of Event Scale included neuroticism, trauma severity and feelings of self-reproach. It is necessary to develop support systems for nurses at risk for secondary traumatic stress.

This article reports the follow-up results of our field study (Jarero & Uribe, 2011) that investigated the application of the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) Protocol for Recent Critical Incidents (EMDR-PRECI) in a human massacre situation. A single individual session was provided to 32 forensic personnel of the State Attorney General in the Mexican state of Durango who were working with 258 bodies recovered from clandestine graves. Pre-post results showed significant improvement for both immediate treatment and waitlist/delayed treatment groups on the Impact of Event Scale (IES) and Short PTSD Rating Interview (SPRINT). In this study, we report the follow-up assessment, which was conducted, at 3 and 5 months posttreatment. Follow-up scores showed that the original treatment results were maintained, with a further significant reduction of self-reported symptoms of posttraumatic stress and PTSD between posttreatment and follow-up. During the follow-up period, the employees continued to work with the recovered corpses and were continually exposed to horrific emotional stressors, with ongoing threats to their own safety. This suggests that EMDR-PRECI was an effective early intervention, reducing traumatic stress for a group of traumatized adults continuing to work under extreme stressors in a human massacre situation. It appears that the treatment may have helped to prevent the development of chronic PTSD and to increase psychological and emotional resilience.

The purpose of this study was to validate the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) for adolescents who had experienced the floods and mudslides caused by Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan. The internal consistency, construct validity, and criteria validity of the instrument were examined. Principal component analysis followed by an oblique rotation was used to derive a three-factor solution. These factors were labeled intrusion, hyperarousal, and avoidance; all three factors together accounted for 58.1% of the variance. The total Cronbach’s alpha of 0.94 reflected the good internal consistency of the instrument. With reference to diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder, the IES-R cutoff point for posttraumatic stress disorder was 19 of 20 with a sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 84.1%. In conclusion, the IES-R can be used as a reliable and valid instrument when evaluating psychological distress among adolescents who have experienced a natural disaster, such as flooding and mudslides.

Our study examines gender differences in traumatic exposure and associated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms reported by a 266 male and female inmates. In our sample, 94.7% of the inmates had experienced at least one traumatic event identified in Trauma History Questionnaire – Modified. Male inmates reported higher rates of witnessing harm to others in childhood (22.4%) and adolescence (43.25) and female inmates, higher rates of interpersonal sexual trauma in childhood (31.2%), adolescence (35.3%), and adulthood (27.7%). Women showed higher rates of PTSD (40.2%) when compared to men (12.5%), as measured by the total PTSD score of the Impact of Event Scale – Revised. The combined trauma types explained 12% and 16% of the total PTSD score in the female and male samples, respectively. In the female model, interpersonal sexual trauma was a significant predictor of PTSD symptoms; whereas in the male model, interpersonal nonsexual trauma was a significant predictor. We discuss these findings as they...

The relationship between genetic testing, psychological well-being and surveillance behavior: A questionnaire study in presymptomatic female and male BRCA carriers and non-carriers. Many researchers have investigated the impact of BRCA gene testing on psychological well-being, but results are equivocal. Heterogeneous findings may point to the role of influencing factors. The current questionnaire study investigates the relationship between genetic testing, psychological wellbeing, and surveillance behavior. The role of sex, age, SES, carrier status, time since testing, number of children, and coping is examined. The research sample consists of 119 presymptomatic BRCA gene mutation carriers and non-carriers (Mage=41.71,SD=11.05). Results indicated that genetic testing is related to psychological well-being over time.Women report more distress than men, carriers more than non-carriers. Coping at the moment of the genetic testing also influences psychological well-being over time. The more people used an emotion-oriented and problem-oriented coping style at the moment of testing, the lower their psychological well-being over time. Results furthermore indicated that surveillance behavior is predicted by sex, carrier status, number of children and problem-oriented coping. Carrier status is the only predictor of prophylactic surgery. Results of this study may contribute to the identification of persons at-risk for lower levels of psychological well-being and surveillance behavior.

This study addresses the psychometric properties, including the internal consistency and dimensionality, of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) in French-speaking mental health and social professionals in Switzerland faced with a patient suicide. Data were obtained by a self-administered questionnaire from a sample of 297 individuals who had experienced a patient suicide during the previous 5 years. The internal consistency of the IES-R and its subscales was high (α coefficients between 0.82 and 0.91) as were the correlations between the subscores (coefficients between 0.54 and 0.69). The dimensionality of the IES-R was best captured by a three-factor structure accounting for 53.0% of the total variance, with four theoretical intrusion items loading on the hyperarousal factor. The intrusion subscale contributed to more than half of the total score. Variations in the total score were associated with age and profession, while no significant association was found with professional experience, length of time since the patient suicide, or number of patient suicides. The French version of the IES-R is an adequate and reliable instrument for addressing the impact of a patient suicide on mental health and social professionals. Its dimensionality is consistent with the theoretical structure of the original version.

Contains fulltext : 89176.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) PURPOSE: This work aims to prospectively study stress response symptoms (SRS) in adolescents during the first year after a parent's cancer diagnosis and factors associated with SRS. Additionally, SRS in these adolescents were compared to SRS in adolescents whose parents were diagnosed 1-5 years (reference group) previously. METHODS: Forty-nine adolescents, 37 ill parents, and 37 spouses completed questionnaires within 4 months after diagnosis (T1) and six (T2) and 12 months (T3) later. RESULTS: Clinically elevated SRS were found in 29% of adolescents at T1, 16% at T2, and 14% at T3. In contrast, in the reference group, we found 29% clinically elevated SRS. Daughters seemed more at risk than sons. Adolescents' age, patient's gender, and intensity and duration of treatment did not significantly affect SRS. Adolescents with more SRS reported having more emotional/behavioral problems. Parents observed fewer problems in those adolescents. Initial SRS affected later SRS and emotional problems. CONCLUSIONS: The findings illustrate that adolescent children of cancer patients may have clinically elevated SRS that are associated with emotional and behavioral problems. The prevalence of such problems may be underestimated by the parents. 01 november 2010

Research has demonstrated that the extent to which an individual integrates a traumatic event into their identity ("trauma centrality") positively correlates with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity. No research to date has examined trauma centrality in individuals exposed to combat stress. This study investigated trauma centrality using the abridged Centrality of Event Scale (Berntsen & Rubin, 2006) among Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom combat veterans (n = 46). Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that trauma centrality predicted PTSD symptoms. Trauma centrality and PTSD symptoms remained significantly correlated when controlling for depression in subgroups of veterans with or without probable PTSD. This study replicates and extends findings that placing trauma at the center of one's identity is associated with PTSD symptomatology.

False allegations of victimization typically are accompanied by malingered emotional symptomology to corroborate claims. This analog study was designed to compare truthful and fabricated symptom profiles on measures of post-traumatic stress (i.e., Revised Impact of Event Scale, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist, Trauma Symptom Inventory) and levels of symptom consistency over time. Participants (undergraduate students) described their mental health symptoms for both traumas at time 1 (N = 291), time 2 (N = 252, 3 month), and time 3 (N = 181, 6 months). Results indicated that fabricated traumas were associated with inflated symptom profiles. Validity scales were not effective at discerning symptom veracity, although reports could be discriminated somewhat by atypical responding and clinical scales. PTSD symptoms in malingerers also were reported more consistently over time. This research offers applicable information for identifying feigned traumatic stress.

Background: Injury, medical treatment, and rehabilitation can have major impacts on patients’ wellbeing. About 25-33% of the patients experience an acute stress disorder (ASD) or a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after injury. ASD is a relatively new diagnosis. Therefore, knowledge about patients’ experiences, the course of ASD and PTSD, and who is at risk for developing ASD or PTSD is lacking. Objective: The aims of this multi-method study are to explore patients’ experiences with injury (and their care) using a focus group study. Then, in the observational study, different courses of ASD, PTSD, and quality of life will be examined. In addition, this study will examine if these courses could be characterized by socio-demographic, clinical, and psychological variables. Consequently, a risk profile will be developed to determine which patients are at risk for developing ASD or PTSD during the 12 months after injury. Methods: Trauma patients treated in the shock room (in 2015) of the Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital will share their experiences with injury in the focus group study. Open, axial, and selective coding will be used to analyze the data. Concerning the observational study, patients treated in the shock room (during 2016 and 2017, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital and Erasmus Medical Centre) will be asked to participate. The inclusion period is 12 months. Participants will complete the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, MINI-plus, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF after inclusion and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after injury. The NEO-Five Factor Inventory and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait are completed after inclusion only. Repeated measures of latent class analysis and linear mixed models will be used to examine the research aims. Results: This project was funded in August 2015 by ZonMw. The results of the focus group study are expected in the first trimester of 2018. With regard to the observational study, recruitment is currently underway. Data collection will be completed in November 2018. The first results will be expected in the first trimester of 2019. Conclusions: This is the first multi-method study in trauma patients that examines patients’ experiences (qualitative design) as well as psychological disorders (observational prospective). This study will contribute to necessary information on psychological consequences after injury. Moreover, it provides knowledge about which patients to include in future psychological intervention research. Finally, awareness in clinicians about the psychological consequences can be created, so they are able to act more effectively to provide patient-oriented care. Trial Registration: Netherlands Trial Registry NTR6258; http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=6258 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6xSCiO1bS) [JMIR Res Protoc 2018;7(3):e88]

Objective: The study aimed at establishing the factor structure of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) in survivors of war. Methods: A total sample of 4.167 participants with post-traumatic stress symptoms following the war in Ex-Yugoslavia were split into three samples: Two independent samples of people who stayed in the area of conflict and one sample of refugees to Western European countries. Alternative models with 3, 4, and 5 factors of posttraumatic symptoms were tested in one sample. The findings were cross-validated in the other two samples. Results: The model of best fit had 5 factors, i.e. intrusion, avoidance, hyperarousal, numbing, and sleep disturbance. Model superiority was cross-validated in two other samples. Conclusions: These findings suggest a 5 factor model of posttraumatic stress symptoms in war survivors with numbing and sleep disturbance as separate factors in addition to intrusion, avoidance and hyperarousal.

Civilian women working in war zones may be vulnerable to posttraumatic stress reactions for decades. Some four decades since the Vietnam war, little is understood of how non-national civilian women have made sense of their experiences both in a war zone and returning to a hostile society and how this has affected their mental well-being over a lifetime. Female entertainers employed by Western allied forces during the Vietnam conflict completed the Posttraumatic Stress Checklist-Military (PCL-M), the Revised Impact of Event Scale (IES-R), and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in response to war zone exposure categories of life threat, sexual discrimination and abuse, and personal trauma. The majority of participants were asymptomatic of posttrauma stress according to the PCL-M and IES-R. However, decades later, 9% of participants met diagnostic criteria for PTSD according to the PCL-M, suggesting that civilian women exposed to war zones may be symptomatic for decades.

Limited information is known about insomnia, depression, and distress in men with prostate cancer. This study explored insomnia and its relationship to depression and distress in this population. Participants (N = 51) were recruited from a Veterans Affairs Medical Center outpatient clinic. Questionnaires included the Insomnia Severity Index, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, and Impact of Event Scale. Findings indicated that many men had insomnia and depression with a moderate level of distress. Half the men with clinically significant insomnia also had clinically significant depression. Significant relationships were found among insomnia, depression, and distress. Implications for research and practice are offered.

The authors assessed medical student attitudes regarding mistreatment and symptoms of posttraumatic stress in those students who reported exposure to mistreatment. Third- and fourth-year medical students (N=71) responded to questions from a vignette in which a student is mistreated and then described any mistreatment they had witnessed or experienced. They also discussed related symptoms of posttraumatic stress subsequent to the mistreatment. The revised Impact of Event Scale was the primary outcome measure. Ninety percent of respondents reported sympathy for the student in the vignette and supported her discussing the incident with peers, the resident, and administration. Seventy-three percent reported witnessing or experiencing mistreatment, suggesting symptoms of posttraumatic stress, with no differences in scores across the intended field of study, age, or gender. In a supportive environment, medical students will discuss their experiences of mistreatment. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress can occur from mistreatment.

This study examined whether familiarity with the physical environment and verbal/pictorial exposure to a tsunami also inducted posttraumatic stress symptoms in adolescents. The Impact of Event Scale (IES) and Pediatric Emotional Distress Scale (PEDS) were administered to 231 subjects (130 directly exposed and 101 indirectly exposed). The directly exposed group scored high on the IES and PEDS. A significant sex difference was observed on all three dimensions of the IES, and fearful and traumatic event-related dimensions of PEDS, with females at a higher risk compared to males. In the indirectly exposed group, no sex difference was observed for the IES (avoidance and total impact score) or the fearful, acting out, or traumatic experience related dimensions of the PEDS. Significant sex differences were observed in this group on the IES intrusion and PEDS withdrawal scores, with males higher on intrusion and females higher on withdrawal.

Objective This study will estimate distribution-based minimal important difference (MID) for the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D) subscales, and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) in survivors of acute respiratory failure (ARF). Methods Secondary analyses of data from two US and three UK studies of ARF survivors (total N =1223). HADS-D and HADS-A were used to assess depression and anxiety symptoms. IES-R assessed post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Standard error of measurement, minimal detectable change 90 , 0.5 standard deviation (S.D.), and 0.2 S.D. were used to estimate MID for the combined sample, by studies, 6- and 12-month follow-ups, country and mental health condition. Results Overall, MID estimates converged to 2.0–2.5 for the HADS-A, 1.9–2.3 for the HADS-D and 0.17–0.18 for the IES-R. MID estimates were comparable across studies, follow-up, country and mental health condition. Conclusion Among ARF survivors, 2.0–2.5 is a reasonable range for the MID for both HADS subscales, and 0.2 is reasonable for IES-R. Until anchor-based MIDs for these instruments are available, these distribution-based estimates can help researchers plan future studies and interpret the clinical importance of findings in ARF patient populations.

Potrauminis augimas yra teigiami psichologiniai padariniai po traumos, kurie pasireiskia saves suvokimo, požiūrio į pasaulį ir tarpasmeninių santykių pokyciais (Tedeschi and Calhoun, 1996). Pozityvūs procesai po traumos dar tik pradedami tyrinėti, todėl nėra žinoma, kokios yra potrauminio augimo (PTA), trauminio įvykio intensyvumo ir potrauminio streso sutrikimo (PTSS) sąsajos. Siekiant įvertinti rysius tarp trauminės patirties ir PTSS bei PTA, buvo istirti 104 studentisko amžiaus jaunuoliai, per savo gyvenimą patyre bent vieną trauminį įvykį. Tako analizės modelis parodė, kad subjektyvus trauminės patirties intensyvumasyra veiksnys, reiksmingai prognozuojantis tiek PTSS, tiek PTA. Kuo reakcija į trauminį įvykį yra stipresnė, tuo labiau isreiksti PTSS ir PTA požymiai. Nustatytas nestiprus teigiamas rysys tarp PTSS ir PTA parodė, kad, norėdami geriau suprasti, kaip jauciasi asmenys po traumos, turime atsižvelgti ir į teigiamus (PTA), ir į neigiamus (PTSS) traumos padarinius. Pagrindiniai žodžiai: trauma, potrauminis stresas, potrauminis augimas. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRAUMA EXPOSURE, POSTTRAUMATIC GROWTH AND POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER Evaldas Kazlauskas, Irma Simėnaitė, Danutė Gailienė Summary Objectives: The notion that traumatic experiences may have an impact on human mind is very old. Recent developments in psychotraumatology shifted the approach to a trauma from a purely negative to a more positive perspective. Research confirmed that traumatic events may lead not only to posttraumatic stress or other disorders, but also to positive changes. The present research was based on the concept of Posttraumatic Growth developed by Calhoun and Tedeschi (1996), which is widely known in the field of traumatic stress. Although the number of Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) research is growing rapidly, little is known about Posttraumatic Growth predictors. The present research was designed to find out the links between Posttraumatic Growth, Posttraumatic Stress and initial reactions to the traumatic event. We set up two goals of the study: 1) evaluation of how initial traumatic reactions predict PTG, and 2) assessment of links between PTG and PTSD. Methods: A group of 104 university students exposed to at least one life-time traumatic event participated in the study. The average time gap between exposure to a traumatic event and the time of research was 43 months. The intensity of initial reactions to a traumatic event was measured using a 10-item selfrating inventory developed by the authors of the present study. The Subjective Traumatic Experience (STE) inventory consisted of items covering cognitive, emotional and physiological reactions to a traumatic event. Posttraumatic Growth was measured using the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PGI) developed by Tedeschi and Calhoun (1996). Previous research showed satisfactory psychometric properties of the Lithuanian version of PGI (Gailiene & Kazlauskas, 2005). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder was measured using the Lithuanian version of Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R). A recent validation of the IES-R on Lithuanian population showed its good psychometric properties (Kazlauskas et al., 2006).

INTRODUCTION: As indication for implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) has expanded, prophylactic implantations have increased. It has been well understood that some ICD recipients have psychological problems. Some of those problems are recognized as maladjustment syndromes. METHODS: We studied 35 ICD recipients regularly followed at outpatient department of Kyushu University Hospital in order to clarify the psychological distress and the quality of their daily lives (QOL). By using questionnaire instruments (SF-8, Beck Depression Inventory, Impact of Event Scale Revised, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), we studied their psychological status. RESULTS: Depression, anxiety, and post-stress syndromes existed in 45.5% of the ICD recipients and their QOL was compromised. Female ICD recipients reacted to the stress related to ICD implantation differently from male recipients. Elder ICD recipients had a different way of adjustment from the younger recipients. Various ICD related psychological problems were noted in terms of magnitude and diversity. CONCLUSION: To support ICD recipients both physically and mentally, not only the cardiologists but also specialists from other fields such as psychologists and nurse specialists are needed. Ancillary care must be provided through the support team. Cardiologists who determine whether ICD implantation is required must keep in mind potential psychological sequelae.

Objective: (1) To investigate cancer-related stress symptoms among testicular cancer survivors (TCSs), (2) to gain insight into the relationship Of sociodemographic and cancer-related variables with cancer-related stress symptoms and (3) to assess whether objective and subjective aspects of cancer diagnosis and treatment can be associated with ongoing distress after cancer.Methods: Three hundred and fifty-four TCSs were enrolled in this study and completed the Impact of Events Scale (IES). Thirty TCSs were also selected for interviews: 15 with no and 15 with high levels of cancer-related stress symptoms.Results: Thirteen percent of the TCSs reported experiencing cancer-related stress symptoms. Single TCSs, those with less education, and those who were not employed for wages reported higher levels of stress. Cancer-related variables appeared to play almost no role. Information obtained through interviews suggested that subjective perceptions were more strongly associated with cancer-related stress symptoms than were actual medical histories. Perceptions about the impact of the illness on current life and fear of the future were particularly decisive factors in the presence or absence of cancer-related stress symptoms.Conclusions: It would be beneficial to ask TCSs during follow-up about their thoughts concerning the threats posed by testicular cancer and its effects for their current and future lives, as such perceptions do not necessarily coincide with actual medical histories or current state of health.Practice implications: TCSs who feel that their lives continue to be threatened by their experiences with testicular cancer should be referred for psychosocial intervention. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

We attempted to measure symptomatic characteristics of PTSD in the victims of Tsunami disaster at Sri Lanka. At first, we develop the Harvard Traumatic Questionnaire (HTQ), Impact of the Event Scale Revised (IES-R), Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HCL) in Sri Lankan version for assessment. An expert in English and Sri Lankan translated these scales from English to Sri Lankan. Then, back-translation was done by a psychologist to check the difference between both versions. We administered these scales of the Sri Lankan version to 127 people who have been met with the Tsunami disaster [mean age = 39.0 (S.D. = 13.9)]. Psychometric properties of these scales were examined. Internal consistency as Cronbach's alpha of IES-R was 0.95. We determined if an individual met symptom criteria for the occurrence of PTSD according to a scoring algorithm proposed by the Harvard Refugee Trauma Group on the basis of DSM-4 diagnosis criteria derived from HTQ. We compared IES-R score of individual who has PTSD by HTQ with the score of non-PTSD. The difference was statistically significant by two-tailed t test ( t = − 6.44, df = 1/84, p

Childbirth has been identified as a possible traumatic experience, leading to traumatic stress responses and even to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study investigated the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) in a group of women who recently gave birth (N = 435). In addition, a comparison was made between the original IES and the IES-R. The scale showed high internal consistency (α = 0.88). Using confirmatory factor analysis no support was found for a three-factor structure of an intrusion, an avoidance, and a hyperarousal factor. Goodness of fit was only reasonable, even after fitting one intrusion item on the hyperarousal scale. The IES-R correlated significantly with scores on depression and anxiety self-rating scales, as well as with scores on a self-rating scale of posttraumatic stress disorder. Although the IES-R can be used for studying posttraumatic stress reactions in women who recently gave birth, the original IES proved to be a better instrument compared to the IES-R. It is concluded that adding the hyperarousal scale to the IES-R did not make the scale stronger.

Purpose: This study reports on the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among a sample ( n = 46) of bereaved children. PTSD symptoms in children who have experienced loss due to an expected death through illness have not been previously studied. Method: An exploratory cross-sectional design was used to compare Impact of Event Scale (IES) scores between two groups of bereaved children. One group experienced the sudden, unexpected death of a family member; the second group experienced the expected death of a family member following protracted illness. Findings: Overall, almost two-thirds of the children were found to be experiencing moderate to severe levels of PTSD related symptoms of intrusion and avoidance as measured by the IES. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the IES scores of the two groups of children. Implications: Findings are discussed in relation to current practice with and research on bereaved children.

This study examined the effectiveness of the Impact of Event Scale (IES; Horowitz, Wilner, & Alvarez, 1979) variables in detecting posttraumatic stress and physical symptoms in relevant groups of Gulf War veterans. A large sample of Gulf War veterans were administered the the IES, a semi-structured interview (PSS-I; Foa, Riggs, Dancu, & Rothbaum, 1993) on DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a Physical Symptom Questionnaire from the National Center for PTSD Patient Medical Information Checklist (1993). This study utilized four groups of veterans: 1) a reserve control group of participants who were in a reserve unit during the Gulf War but not deployed to the Gulf; 2) a Gulf War control group of veterans who were deployed to the Gulf War but did not report any symptoms of PTSD; 3) a subclinical group of Gulf War veterans who reported 1–5 DSM-IV criteria for PTSD; and 4) a group of Gulf War veterans who met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD. ...

Objective. Exposure to emotionally traumatic events is common among children who are treated in pediatric medical care settings, and it is important to recognize the emotional reactions that children might develop as a response to the trauma. Practitioners sometimes rely on parental reports of the child's emotional reactions, but these reports may be biased by the parent's own posttraumatic symptoms. Understanding the differences between parent and child reports of the child's emotional symptoms is essential to guide proper diagnosis and care. This study evaluated discrepancies in parental versus child reports of the child's emotional trauma symptoms in pediatric medical care settings.Methods. We enrolled children and adolescents (age: 8–19) who had not previously received a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder and were treated in pediatric specialty care clinics at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. We used the UCLA posttraumatic stress reaction index, child, adolescent, and parent versions, to evaluate child and parent reports of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the child. The Impact of Event Scale was used to evaluate the parents' own posttraumatic symptoms. We conducted a “best estimate” psychiatric diagnostic procedure to determine whether the child met diagnostic criteria for PTSD and evaluated the association between the diagnostic status (as determined by the “best estimate” procedure) and the results of the questionnaires.Results. A total of 115 patients and parents consented to the study, and 76 completed the evaluation. Sixty-four percent of the parents identified the child's traumatic experience as their own most traumatic experience, too. The child's self-report of PTSD symptoms was significantly correlated with the diagnosis of PTSD in the child. In contrast, parents' reports of their child's PTSD symptoms were not significantly associated with the child's diagnosis. Parents' own posttraumatic symptoms were associated with parental reports of the child's overall PTSD symptoms (correlation coefficient: 0.283).Conclusions. When a child is emotionally traumatized, the parent's own posttraumatic stress may influence his or her report and interpretation of the child's symptoms. Clinicians who evaluate children and adolescents for PTSD in medical care settings should directly seek the child's report and should not rely exclusively on parental reports. Parental reports of a child's PTSD symptoms can offer insights into the parent's own level of posttraumatic stress.

Considerable debate has centred on the question of traumatisation among individuals who have survived human rights violations in societies that have undergone political conflict. In order to gain an estimate of the extent of long-term traumatisation among political activists who experienced torture and abuse in detention during the apartheid era in South Africa, a sample of 148 survivors of such experiences were recruited in a cross-sectional study and asked to complete the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL), the Impact of Event Scale (IES), and the Trauma Symptoms section of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). The proportions of the sample that scored above the clinical cut-points on these measures were calculated. On the HSCL, 14.19% of the sample scored above the cut-point for clinical significance of 44; on the IES, 17.57% scored above the clinical cut-point of 44; and on the HTQ, 37.83% scored above the cut-point of 75. Moreover, the sample's mean scores were significantly higher than the cut-point for clinically significant distress on the HSCL (p0.001); significantly lower than the cut-point for severe traumatisation on the IES (p0.001); and non-significantly lower than the cut-point for clinically significant traumatisation on the HTQ (p = 0.074). These results are considered in terms of current theoretical debates on the relevance and applicability of posttraumatic stress disorder as a circumscribed nosological entity in developing countries that are in the process of coming to terms with a history of political conflict.

This study explored whether nurses who were working during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) crisis showed symptoms of distress. This study also examined whether nurses experienced stress from being conscripted to work in higher-risk units.This study was conducted in Taiwan during the peak of the SARS outbreak in 2003. Participants were recruited from nursing staff in a community hospital. Participants were divided into three groups: those who originally worked in units with a high risk of SARS exposure (N=65), those who had been involuntarily conscripted into such units because of manpower demands (N=21), and those who worked in units with a low risk of SARS exposure (N=45). Participants were evaluated with two questionnaires: the Impact of Event Scale and the 90-item Symptom Checklist-Revised.The results showed that 11 percent of the nurses surveyed had stress reaction syndrome. The symptoms of psychological stress reactions included anxiety, depression, hostility, and somatization. The highest rate of stress reaction syndrome was observed in the group that originally worked in a high-risk unit, and the conscripted group experienced the most severe distress on average.These findings suggest that the psychological distress of nurses who worked during the SARS outbreak was moderate. The distress was more prominent among the two groups of nurses who were working with patients with SARS.

The aim of this study was to assess stress response symptoms in children of parents diagnosed with cancer 1-5 year prior to study entry. The impact of event scale was used to measure stress response symptoms in terms of intrusion and avoidance; the youth self-report assessed emotional and behavioural functioning; the state-trait anxiety inventory for children measured trait-anxiety. Participants included 220 adolescents (aged 11-18 years) and 64 young adults (aged 19-23 years) from 169 families. Twenty-one percent of the sons and 35% of the daughters reported clinically elevated stress response symptoms. Daughters, particularly those whose mothers were ill, reported significantly more intrusion and avoidance than did sons. Intrusion among daughters was positively related to age. Stress response symptoms in both sons and daughters were significantly associated with trait anxiety, but not with intensity of treatment or time since diagnosis. Daughters whose parents suffered from recurrent illness reported more symptoms than did daughters whose parents had a primary disease. Children (daughters in particular) with clinically elevated stress response symptoms reported significantly more problems of internalising and cognition than did their norm group peers. One-fifth of the sons and more than one-third of the daughters expressed clinically elevated stress response symptoms. These children also reported internalising and cognitive problems. Daughters appeared to be more at risk than sons. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A majority of mental health social workers come in contact with suicidal clients during their career. As a result, social workers may experience high levels of stress that can ultimately impact their quality of and ability to practice. The present study examined the prevalence of fatal and nonfatal client suicidal behavior experienced by mental health social workers and examined their subsequent reactions. A random national sample of 697 mental health social workers from the NASW database was anonymously surveyed. Findings indicate that both fatal and nonfatal client suicidal behavior is not a rare occurrence for mental health social workers and that both types of behaviors relate to increased levels of subjective stress as measured by the Impact of Event Scale (IES);. Implications of these findings are discussed.