Trauma: Complexity and Disruption

Wars, natural disasters, economic disasters, and major accidents are all traumatic or disruptive events in life. To face them, a broad and integrative perspective and suitable conceptualizations about the complexity of psychic reactions are needed. Disasters can be a paradigmatic example of complexity. To deal with them it is important to promote the highest level of health based on person-centered care. Generally in medicine we use a standard classification when we treat patients. A negative aspect of it, particularly in mental health, is the risk of reductionism and the process of victimization. This must be changed by taking into account the specificities of each individual and the particular characteristics of a certain event. We consider that concepts, such as “traumatic situations,” “victims,” and “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)” are sometimes used in an unclear way, producing confusion in clinical practice. To avoid confusion and especially victimization of the subject perhaps, the term “disruption” could be used instead of “traumatic situation.” Also, we should perhaps refer to affected people as “injured people” instead of “victims.” Referring to a traumatic event as “disruptive situation” is a way to avoid victimization. Clinical care should consider the specificities of each individual and the characteristics of each event, in order to offer an appropriate diagnosis, assistance, and treatment.