The results of our study on the effects of well‐being therapy (WBT) compared with a treatment‐as‐usual (TAU) control condition among individuals with residual symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were recently published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress (Radstaak et al., 2020). In a subsequent commentary, Fava and Guidi (2020) raised several conceptual and methodological issues that they

Sexual assault (SA) often occurs in the context of substances, which can impair the trauma memory and contribute to negative cognitions like self‐blame. Although these factors may affect posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment, outcomes for substance‐involved SA have not been evaluated or compared with other types of SA. As such, we conducted a secondary analysis of a dismantling trial for cognitive

Police officers experience a high number of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) often associated with elevated posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). In addition, PTSS are related to co‐occurring psychiatric symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression), alcohol misuse, and low perceived well‐being. Yet, behavioral processes that may account for the associations between PTSS and unfavorable outcomes remain unspecified

The Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES‐R) is a widely used self‐report questionnaire used to assess symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although the IES‐R has been translated and validated in multiple languages, no previous version has employed the Arabic dialect commonly spoken in Syria. The present work aimed to assess the psychometric properties of a Syrian Arabic version of the IES‐R

Research suggests that professionals and volunteers who work with forcibly displaced people (FDP) experience burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) as a result of working with such a highly traumatized population. In the present systematic review and meta‐analyses, we report the pooled prevalence rates of burnout and STS in individuals working both professionally and voluntarily with FDP. The

Microaggressions are a common way that individuals experience racism in the United States. The current study examined the extent to which microaggressions contribute to mental health difficulties, namely trauma reactions and depression, after controlling for other traumatic event exposures. We sought to address gaps in the literature by quantitatively assessing the associations among microaggressions

A substantial number of individuals who undergo cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) drop out before receiving a full course of treatment. Therapeutic alliance, defined as the working relationship between the therapist and client, is a dynamic process within therapy that may change over time. Research suggests that therapeutic alliance is associated with dropout

Validated retrospective self‐report symptom rating scales are recommended for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) screening and treatment. However, such reports may be affected by a respondent's most intense (“peak”) or most recent (“end”) symptoms. The present study evaluated the correspondence between PTSD symptoms assessed using a standard past‐month retrospective rating scale and recorded by ecological

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use are highly prevalent among military veteran populations. Several theories have been proposed to account for the comorbidity between PTSD and problematic alcohol use, but research examining the symptom‐level associations between the two is limited. The current study used network analysis to examine the associations between PTSD and problematic alcohol

Trauma exposure and comorbid substance use are highly prevalent among female drug court participants. Despite the pervasiveness of the issue, few studies have investigated the impact of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and nonmedical prescription drug use among this specific population. The present study examined the impact of posttraumatic stress, social support, and nonmedical prescription drug

Preliminary studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Transcendental Meditation (TM) for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study extended previous research with a pilot trial of TM as a treatment for PTSD via a single‐blinded, randomized controlled design. veterans with PTSD (N = 40) were assigned to a TM intervention or treatment‐as‐usual (TAU) control group. Participants

In the United States, Black residents exposed to a traumatic event are at an increased risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and experiencing more severe symptoms compared to their non‐Hispanic White counterparts. Although previous work has suggested a link between racial discrimination and PTSD symptoms, no studies have assessed this association in a sample of traumatic injury survivors

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is a gold‐standard treatment for adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, adolescents may also benefit from CPT, particularly when existing evidence‐based treatments for adolescents are unavailable or not a good fit. In this program evaluation study, a modular version of CPT was delivered by community‐based therapists‐in‐training to 32 adolescents

Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors; however, clinicians often report apprehension about recommending trauma‐focused therapy to patients with an increased risk of suicide. The present study aimed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and response to cognitive processing therapy (CPT) among a sample of military veterans with

Cross‐sectional research suggests that posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among war zone veterans are associated with functional impairment and poor quality of life. Less is known about the long‐term functional repercussions of PTSS. This study of Iraq War veterans examined the associations between increases in PTSS and long‐term functional outcomes, including the potential contributions of neurocognitive

The centrality of a traumatic event to one's autobiographical memory has been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity. In the present study, we investigated the associations between specific features of event centrality (EC), as measured using the Centrality of Event Scale, and specific symptoms of PTSD. We computed a cross‐sectional graphical lasso network of PTSD symptoms

The scholarly publishing enterprise is currently undergoing a “crisis,” likely exacerbated by the global pandemic, in which peer reviewers are increasingly less available to perform reviews at the same time the flow of submitted manuscripts has not subsided. This editorial considers possible reasons why scholars might decline to participate in the peer review process, including the lack of compensation

In this paper, we draw on empirical research and theoretical models of refugee and posttrauma mental health to propose the “Psychological Interaction with Environment (PIE) Matrix Model” of refugee mental health. This model focuses on the mental health of adult refugees and proposes that psychological factors and the external environment interact to influence mental health outcomes and functioning

Thompson‐Hollands et al.’s (2020) commentary on our systematic review of exposure‐based writing therapies for subthreshold and clinical posttraumatic stress symptoms (Dawson et al., 2020) emphasizes important questions about the impact of heterogeneity in drawing inferences from evidence reviews. In this reply, we discuss (a) our rationale for undertaking a systematic review that was broad rather than

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic and its unprecedented social restrictions may have serious mental health implications, especially in individuals who have experienced childhood traumatic experiences (CTEs). This prospective study aimed to investigate whether general psychopathology and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity increased during the pandemic as compared

Suicidality is a major public health concern, particularly for low‐income, trauma‐exposed patients with limited access to mental health providers. However, limited research has modeled pathways of suicidality in safety‐net primary care samples. Patients (N = 207) in a safety‐net primary care clinic completed measures of childhood and adult trauma exposure, depression, and suicidality. Participants

The present study aimed to describe the demographic and occupational characteristics, comorbidities, and psychotropic medication receipt associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis during pregnancy among a sample of active duty U.S. military servicewomen. Data from the U.S. Department of Defense Birth and Infant Health Research program were used to identify pregnancies in active

This study assessed the ability of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist for the DSM‐5 (PCL‐5) to distinguish between caseness and noncaseness for PTSD among South Africans receiving care for HIV. The PCL‐5 and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐5–Research Version (SCID‐RV) module for PTSD were administered to 688 patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at two HIV care clinics

Emerging research has demonstrated that psychosocial trauma exposure may elicit epigenetic changes, with downstream effects on the transcriptional regulation of genes. Epigenome‐wide association studies (EWAS) offer an agnostic approach to examine DNA methylation (DNAm) associations and are a valuable tool to aid in the identification of biological pathways involved in posttraumatic stress disorder

High treatment dropout rates reported in recent literature have brought into question the effectiveness of trauma‐focused posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatments among military populations. The aim of the current systematic review was to evaluate PTSD treatment dropout rates among military populations by treatment type and other study‐level variables. We searched four databases as well as gray

Research on residential posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment has predominantly focused on the U.S. veteran population, whereas limited research exists regarding active duty service members. The present study evaluated outcomes among service members who received treatment in the Department of Defense's only residential PTSD program, Overcoming Adversity and Stress Injury Support (OASIS). Over

Limited research has examined the links among violent victimization, mental health, and service utilization among gang‐involved individuals. This mixed‐methods preliminary study examined narratives of psychiatric distress, current psychiatric morbidity, and mental health treatment experiences among a sample of former gang members (N = 32; M age = 44.4 years, 87.5% male; 56.3% Hispanic or Latino, 31

The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) is an intervention that targets common mechanisms that maintain symptoms across multiple disorders. The UP has been shown to be effective across many disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive episode (MDE), and panic disorder, that commonly codevelop following trauma exposure. The present study

Radstaak, Hüning, and Bohlmeijer (2020) reported on a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of well‐being therapy (WBT) compared to treatment as usual (TAU) in the treatment of residual posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. No significant differences emerged between treatment conditions. However, our view is that what the authors labeled as WBT did not match the manualized psychotherapeutic strategy

Engaging in posttraumatic avoidance behaviors after a traumatic incident is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) outcomes. Given the inherent limitations in the scope of the two‐item assessment of posttraumatic avoidance used in commonly administered measures of PTSD symptoms, the 25‐item Posttraumatic Avoidance Behaviour Questionnaire (PABQ) was developed to assess a range of avoidance

Positive adaptation manifests differently in the aftermath of traumatic events. Methodological limitations, however, impede the ability to test conceptualizations of resilience that emphasize the multifaceted nature of these responses. In response, an approach that synthesized a residualized and person‐centered conceptualization of resilience examined associations between aspects of resilience in an

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and eating disorders (EDs) are individually debilitating and highly comorbid conditions. Childhood abuse is a prominent risk factor for PTSD and ED symptoms both individually and as a comorbid syndrome (PTSD–ED). There may be a functional association between comorbid PTSD–ED symptoms whereby disordered eating behaviors are used to avoid trauma‐related thoughts and

When service members manifest symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), intimate partners may engage in behaviors to accommodate their partners’ experiences (e.g., helping service members avoid situations that could make them uncomfortable, not expressing own thoughts and feelings to minimize PTSD‐related conflict), which may inadvertently serve to maintain or increase PTSD symptoms over time

Moral injury, an experience of betrayal or transgression of moral values, continues to receive attention because of its associations with psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder and suicidality. There is growing recognition that moral injury may require novel interventions that involve religious or spiritual paradigms. This pilot study presents feasibility data and exploratory

Emerging adults (i.e., age 18–25 years) of color in the United States are exposed to race/ethnicity‐related traumatic events in online settings. Although an emerging literature documents the mental health consequences of such online exposures among adolescents, the association between these exposures and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains understudied in emerging adults. Furthermore

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during pregnancy is a significant global mental health concern that affects up to 1 in 5 trauma‐exposed pregnant women and is associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal and infant complications and health outcomes. This systematic literature review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, examined findings from studies of psychological interventions

The 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan was an extraordinarily stressful incident that caused harmful psychological reactions, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among affected individuals. However, a proportion of exposed individuals experienced posttraumatic growth (PTG), characterized by a noticeable degree of personal strength, spirituality, life appreciation, perception of new

We investigated the psychological toll of exposure to rocket attacks as experienced by residents of central and southern Israel during the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict. Participants completed an online survey assessing their life‐threatening experiences, the availability of psychosocial resources, and symptoms of both PTSD (PCL‐5) and nonspecific psychological distress (K6) 2–3 months posttrauma. Guided

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been linked to increased prevalence and incidence of cognitive and physical impairment. When comorbid, these conditions may be associated with poor long‐term outcomes. We examined associations between chronic PTSD and symptom domains with cognitive and physical functioning in World Trade Center (WTC) responders nearly 20 years after the September 11, 2001, terrorist

Trauma‐exposed individuals are at risk of developing mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As an exposed individual's friend or family member may be the first person to provide posttrauma relief, informing and training laypeople in psychosocial first aid may benefit mental health outcomes of trauma‐exposed individuals. We aimed to (a) collect the best available evidence

Victims of violent crime (VVC) are at risk of developing acute stress disorder (ASD) and subsequent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition, VVC are more likely to have low social support due to stigmatization and victim‐blaming, and PTSD is frequently associated with depression, anxiety, and impaired quality of life (QoL). The present study aimed to determine the impact of ASD, PTSD, depressive

Deficits in working memory (WM) have a role in maintaining posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, including intrusions, which are a hallmark of PTSD symptomatology. As intrusions are distressing and uncontrollable, it is important to investigate whether PTSD is associated with altered control of proactive interference in WM. Moreover, it is important to consider both verbal and visual WM, as

The interpersonal theory of suicide (Joiner, 2005) may help explain high suicide rates among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It suggests that suicidal ideation results from believing that one is a burden on others (i.e., perceived burdensomeness) and does not belong among family, friends, or other social groups (i.e., thwarted belongingness). Evidence‐based PTSD treatments, including

There has been a lack of consensus regarding whether to include or exclude participants with suicidal ideation (SI) from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) psychotherapy clinical trials and, until recently, how best to report adverse events related to suicide risk. Without consistent reporting or evaluation of SI as an outcome, clinical practice guidelines are limited in their ability to recommend

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with many repercussions on adolescents’ mental health, including suicidal ideation. Yet, the mechanisms linking CSA to adverse outcomes have rarely been investigated within a longitudinal design. The current study aimed to examine the role of affect dysregulation in the association between depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation 1year after the first assessment

Exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) increases an individual's risk of suffering from psychiatric disorders. However, only a small proportion of individuals exposed to PTEs use health care services (HCS). Few studies have examined how exposure to different types of PTEs affect the odds an individual will suffer from a psychiatric disorder and access HCS. The present study aimed to examine

Although previous studies have identified behavioral health risks associated with combat exposure, it is unclear which types of combat events are associated with these risks, particularly regarding contrasts among the risks associated with life‐threatening experiences, killing combatants, and exposure to unjust war events, such as killing a noncombatant or being unable to help civilian women and children

Exposure‐based writing interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have shown promise when compared with waitlist conditions, placebo writing control conditions, and evidence‐based, trauma‐focused treatments. Recently, Dawson et al. (2020) conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to examine existing published randomized controlled trials investigating exposure‐based writing interventions

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is linked to both altered physiological functioning and poorer cardiovascular health outcomes, including an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular‐related mortality. An important question is whether interventions for PTSD might ameliorate the risk for poorer health by improving cardiovascular physiological intermediaries. To begin to characterize

Firefighters (FFs) protect the public despite significant risks to their health and well‐being stemming from frequent trauma exposure and other occupational stressors. A minority of FFs develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or related mental health problems, whereas most remain remarkably resilient despite enormous stress. This points toward substantial variability in responses to traumatic

Natural disasters are potentially traumatic events due to their disruptive nature and high impact on social and physical environments, particularly for children and adolescents. The present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES‐13) in a sample of Portuguese children and adolescents exposed to a specific type of natural disaster (i

There is a growing body of literature on the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after committing homicide that has examined the prevalence of this phenomenon among individuals who have been convicted, but these studies considerably vary. The present study was the first meta‐analysis to synthesize scientific evidence regarding the prevalence of offense‐related PTSD among convicted killers

Minors fleeing violence in their countries of origin constitute a significant portion of asylum seekers in the United States. Medical and mental health professionals provide continuity care services and offer pro bono forensic evaluations for this population to document evidence of human rights abuses and torture. The present study included a retrospective, qualitative chart review of deidentified

Indirectly experienced negative life events are not considered Criterion A traumatic events per DSM‐5 posttraumatic stress disorder diagnostic criteria, yet individuals indirectly exposed to trauma via the media may report these events as peak traumatic experiences. We studied which events people considered to be the “worst” in their lifetimes to gain a better understanding of the types of events individuals

Single‐case experimental designs (SCEDs) involve obtaining repeated measures from one or a few participants before, during, and, sometimes, after treatment implementation. Because they are cost‐, time‐, and resource‐efficient and can provide robust causal evidence for more large‐scale research, SCEDs are gaining popularity in trauma treatment research. However, sophisticated techniques to analyze SCED

Although extensive efforts have been made to train clinicians in evidence‐based psychotherapies (EBPs) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), relatively few PTSD patients are considered appropriate for and therefore receive these treatments. The dialectical behavior therapy prolonged exposure (DBT PE) protocol was developed to expand the reach of EBPs for PTSD to suicidal patients with severe comorbidities

Evidence‐based psychotherapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure (CPT/PE), greatly reduce suffering for veterans, but many veterans fail to complete treatment. Developing a theory‐based understanding of adherence is necessary to inform interventions to improve treatment retention. We developed and tested a series of scales applying

Childhood adversity (CA) and adulthood traumatic experiences (ATEs) are common and unequally distributed in the general population. Early stressors may beget later stressors and alter life‐course trajectories of stressor exposure. Gender differences exist regarding the risk of specific stressors. However, few studies have examined the associations between specific types of CA and ATEs. Using a large‐scale

The present study introduced a modernized approach to Jacobson and Truax's (1991) methods of estimating treatment effects on individual‐level (a) movement from the clinical to the normative range and (b) reliable change on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity. Participants were 450 trauma‐exposed women (M age = 39.2 years, SD = 8.9, range: 18–65 years) who presented to seven geographically

Anxiety sensitivity is a potential risk factor for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and has been hypothesized to contribute to PTSS development. However, few prospective studies have evaluated whether anxiety sensitivity predicts PTSS. In a subsample of 48 women sexual assault survivors enrolled as part of a larger prospective observational study, elevated anxiety sensitivity measured via a brief