There is a need to improve the training and supervision of specialist and non-specialist professionals working with trafficking survivors. Further training for non-specialist stakeholders and professionals who are in frequent and close contact with survivors, for example in camps or government accommodations, is also required. Survivors of trafficking are in contact with many organisations and sectors, and they may not disclose their experiences outright; therefore providing training which improves understanding of modern slavery should be a priority for all major psychological, housing, employment, welfare, and immigration support networks and organisations (among others).
The study findings imply dedicated interventions for specific needs at each stage of recovery are required.
This study is an update of the meta-analysis we published in 2019 on the effectiveness of body- and movement-oriented interventions (BMOIs) for adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in decreasing PTSD symptoms and secondary outcomes of depressive symptoms, sleep disturbance, and interoceptive awareness.
Mental contamination refers to feelings of dirtiness in response to thoughts, images, or memories. Mental contamination is frequently reported after sexual trauma and is associated with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Effective pharmacologic treatments for comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are lacking. Kappa (κ) opioid receptor antagonists may address this unmet need. Buprenorphine is a κ-opioid antagonist and a partial agonist of mu (μ) opioid receptors, and naltrexone blocks all μ-mediated effects, thus, yielding a pharmacological net effect of a κ-opioid receptor antagonist. This combination was tested in this proof-of-concept study since no specific κ-opioid receptor antagonist was available. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Physical activity and exercise can reduce depression, so helping people be more active improves mental health, which is also pertinent for when people face challenges in life. In general, exercise should be advised in public mental health guidelines. Support to be physically active should be a fundamental service in a society that values the wellbeing and productivity of its citizens, particularly for people experiencing vulnerability or marginalisation.
A group of MSc students at UCL summarise a study exploring the secondary mental health care treatment patients with comorbid PTSD and suicidality receive.
Although complex post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder are distinct disorders, there is confusion in clinical practice regarding the similarities between the diagnostic profiles of these conditions. We summarise the differences in the diagnostic criteria that are clinically informative and we illustrate these with case studies to enable diagnostic accuracy in clinical practice. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) causes severe physical and psychological impacts on the patients as well as their spousal caregivers. To facilitate the psychological adaptation of the CRC suffered couples, a couple-based posttraumatic growth (PTG) intervention was developed based on the PTG affective-cognitive processing model. The feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effect of this intervention were tested. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
We report on two studies designed to shed light on the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity in military personnel. In particular, we examined the evidence for both additive and multiplicative associations between ACEs and combat exposure in predicting PTSD symptom severity.
Despite the therapeutic needs of aging Holocaust survivors, no randomized controlled trial (RCT) of psychotherapy exists for this population, with very few on older adults in general. This RCT aimed to compare the efficacy of Life Review Therapy for Holocaust survivors (LRT-HS) relative to a supportive control group.
Sudden gains, defined as large and stable improvements in symptom severity during psychological treatment, have consistently been found to be associated with better outcomes across treatments and diagnoses. Yet, insights on coherent predictors of sudden gains and on emotional changes around sudden gains in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are lacking.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a disabling condition resulting from a range of traumas and affecting many people worldwide. This month's Cochrane Corner review systematically searched and reported findings from 66 randomised controlled trials of pharmacotherapy for PTSD, 54 of which were included in a meta-analysis. Evidence was shown for the benefit of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, mirtazapine and amitriptyline in treatment response. This Round the Corner commentary critically appraises the review's findings, concluding that the summative evidence was of poor quality owing to the low number of studies, the high risk of bias and significant heterogeneity. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing as a treatment for PTSD, trauma, and trauma related symptoms in children with intellectual disabilities: a general review - Author: Chloe Louise Williamson, Kelly Rayner-Smith. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
The objective of the present study was to systematically review the existing literature for studies examining the association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and stroke risk and perform a meta-analysis to obtain a pooled risk estimate describing the association.
Trauma-focussed psychological interventions are the treatments of choice for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As many clinical services receive high demand for PTSD interventions, strategies to improve treatment efficiency are needed. Some people seek help in the early phase post-trauma, including as soon as the first few months. It is unclear whether all components of trauma-focussed CBT are needed in this initial stage. Providing brief intervention in this early phase without work on trauma memories may be feasible and effective. This service evaluation study describes a case series of five participants experiencing PTSD following recent traumas. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
The researchers made several recommendations for policy and practice of how needs related to both homelessness and trauma can be understood and addressed together.
Asylees (i.e., asylum seekers) have a higher prevalence of mental health concerns, particularly posttraumatic distress, than the general population due to both their exposure to traumatic experiences and prolonged uncertain status in a new country. Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials with asylees have found that culturally adapted cognitive behavioral therapy (CA-CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and narrative exposure therapy (NET) are efficacious in treating trauma-related symptoms and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, treatment utilization remains low. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Previous meta-analyses of psychotherapies for children and adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) did not investigate whether treatment efficacy is diminished when patients report multiple (versus single) traumas. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.
Concern for symptom exacerbation and treatment drop-out is an important barrier to the implementation of trauma-focused therapy (TFT), especially in people with a psychotic disorder. This study, which was part of a multicenter randomized controlled trial, investigated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom exacerbation during eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and prolonged exposure (PE) in a sample of 99 participants with PTSD and psychosis.
Although trauma-focused treatments (TFTs) are generally effective, not all patients improve. Symptom accommodation (i.e., altering one's behavior in response to another's symptoms) by loved ones may be particularly relevant to TFT treatment response and engagement. We examined the role of symptom accommodation by support persons (SPs) in veterans’ PTSD treatment response, including the mediating role of treatment engagement and the moderating role of relationship strain. To read the full article, choose Open Athens “Institutional Login” and search for “Midlands Partnership”.