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BackgroundPTSD Coach Australia is an app for serving and ex-serving defense members and was adapted for the Australian context in 2013 from PTSD Coach, which was created in the United States. ObjectiveThis study aimed to provide a user-centered evaluation of the app from the perspective of serving and ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force. MethodsQualitative data were collected in response to questions to participants in 1 of 5 workshops (n=29) or in telephone interviews (n=24). Quantitative data were collected using the user version of Mobile Apps Rating Scale (uMARS). ResultsAnalysis of the qualitative data demonstrated mixed support for the app. While some people found it extremely useful, especially as an adjunct to therapy, others pointed out limitations and cautioned against the app potentially triggering symptoms in people with PTSD. This perceived risk was usually found to stem from frustration with the app’s functionality rather than its content. Participants spoke about the helpful and unhelpful aspects of the app and barriers to its use and made suggestions for improvement. Many participants encouraged its continued use and highlighted the need for it to be promoted more broadly, as many were not aware of it until they were invited to participate in this research. ConclusionsPTSD Coach Australia was seen in a positive light by some participants, but others thought it had too much text and the potential to trigger a traumatic response in users with PTSD. A need to update the app was also a common comment as was the need to increase awareness of the app’s existence.

Correctional officers (COs) work under stressful conditions and experience high rates of potentially psychologically traumatic critical incidents, and yet understanding of their mental health is limited. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore how correctional work impacts CO mental health. Twenty-two Australian COs (12 men, 10 women) working predominantly in high security prisons (91%) with male prison residents (50%) were interviewed about their mental health and workplace experiences. Reflexive thematic analysis of these interviews generated three key themes: the job changes you, it's a stressful job, and coping strategies. Officers showed both positive and negative changes to their sense of self, daily functioning, and mental health which were generally consistent with experiences of psychological wellbeing, posttraumatic growth, and burnout. These changes were impacted by a variety of operational and organizational stressors and were managed through adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies like social support, humor, and alcohol consumption. The findings support existing theories of the non-dichotomous nature of mental health and mental illness. Along with deepening understandings of CO mental health, this study provides guidance on how COs can be supported to be healthy and productive in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While research has focused on the difficulties faced in adapting to life following the experiences of a traumatic event, limited research has examined positive legacies of incorporating a traumatic experience into life posttrauma. This study uses quantitative and qualitative data (N = 218) to examine the effect that trauma severity and social support have on posttrauma outcomes. Individuals' perceptions of their traumatic experiences and the social support they received were significant influences posttrauma. The knowledge gained has practical applications for therapy and the client/counsellor relationship in terms of counselling and facilitating personal growth after trauma.

Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is the advantageous change some people report following the struggle to overcome traumatic life circumstances. As neural understanding of PTG is limited, debate persists regarding whether PTG represents "real" or "illusory" change. This study presents a novel supervised machine learning examination, predicting high versus low PTG from electroencephalographic (EEG) data collected from 66 trauma-exposed individuals. Alpha and gamma EEG frequency power accurately classified PTG and demonstrated the disruptive neural influence of posttraumatic stress disorder. Results provide objectively measurable neural evidence of the existence of PTG and the first whole-brain, high-density EEG scalp topographies of PTG in known literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]