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Walsh K, Short N, Ji YY, An XM, Witkemper KD, Lechner M, Bell K, Black J, Buchanan J, Ho J, Reed G, Platt M, Riviello R, Martin SL, Liberzon I, Rauch SAM, Bollen K, McLean SA. Development of a brief bedside tool to screen women sexual assault survivors for risk of persistent posttraumatic stress six months after sexual assault. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 174:54-61. [PMID: 38615545 PMCID: PMC11151166 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
This study aims to develop and validate a brief bedside tool to screen women survivors presenting for emergency care following sexual assault for risk of persistent elevated posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) six months after assault. Participants were 547 cisgender women sexual assault survivors who presented to one of 13 sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) programs for medical care within 72 h of a sexual assault and completed surveys one week and six months after the assault. Data on 222 potential predictors from the SANE visit and the week one survey spanning seven broadly-defined risk factor domains were candidates for inclusion in the screening tool. Elevated PTSS six months after assault were defined as PCL-5 > 38. LASSO logistic regression was applied to 20 randomly selected bootstrapped samples to evaluate variable importance. Logistic regression models comprised of the top 10, 20, and 30 candidate predictors were tested in 10 cross-validation samples drawn from 80% of the sample. The resulting instrument was validated in the remaining 20% of the sample. AUC of the finalized eight-item prediction tool was 0.77 and the Brier Score was 0.19. A raw score of 41 on the screener corresponds to a 70% risk of elevated PTSS at 6 months. Similar performance was observed for elevated PTSS at one year. This brief, eight-item risk stratification tool consists of easy-to-collect information and, if validated, may be useful for clinical trial enrichment and/or patient screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Walsh
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Gender & Women's Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Nicole Short
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Yin Yao Ji
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Xin Ming An
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kristen D Witkemper
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Megan Lechner
- University of Colorado Health Memorial Hospital, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
| | - Kathy Bell
- Tulsa Forensic Nursing, Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | | | | | - Jeffrey Ho
- Hennepin Assault Response Team (HART), Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | | | | | - Sandra L Martin
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Israel Liberzon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, USA
| | - Sheila A M Rauch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Veterans Affairs Atlanta Healthcare System, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kenneth Bollen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Samuel A McLean
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
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Torres-Giménez A, Garcia-Gibert C, Gelabert E, Mallorquí A, Segu X, Roca-Lecumberri A, Martínez A, Giménez Y, Sureda B. Efficacy of EMDR for early intervention after a traumatic event: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 174:73-83. [PMID: 38626564 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a well-established psychological therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, based on the recommendations of clinical practice guidelines. However, these guidelines are not as consistent in recommending EMDR interventions for the early treatment of post-traumatic symptoms. The main objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of EMDR therapy for early intervention after a traumatic event. METHODS A systematic search for randomized clinical trials has been carried out in the PUBMED, CINAHL, Psyc-INFO and Cochrane Library search engines. We included individuals exposed to a recent traumatic event (within 3 months of a traumatic incident). Outcomes on PTSD, depression and anxiety in post-treatment, and at follow-up at 3, 6 and 12 months, as well as on safety and tolerability were extracted. RESULTS A total of 11 RCTs were found. Studies showed beneficial effects of early EMDR interventions on post-traumatic symptoms at post-treatment and at 3-month follow-up. No differences were found between EMDR and no intervention or another intervention in the remaining analyses. LIMITATIONS The main limitations are the low quality of the studies, the small number of studies per outcome assessed, and the small sample sizes. CONCLUSIONS There is evidence for the short-term beneficial effect of early EMDR interventions on post-traumatic symptoms. Although it appears to be a safe therapeutic choice, more studies are necessary that include safety data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Torres-Giménez
- Unitat de Salut Mental Perinatal CLINIC-BCN, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | | | - Estel Gelabert
- Departament of Clinical and Health Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aïda Mallorquí
- Clinical Health Psychology Section, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Segu
- Clinical Health Psychology Section, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Roca-Lecumberri
- Unitat de Salut Mental Perinatal CLINIC-BCN, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amparo Martínez
- Maternal Fetal Medicine Service, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yolanda Giménez
- Maternal Fetal Medicine Service, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bàrbara Sureda
- Unitat de Salut Mental Perinatal CLINIC-BCN, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Lauten TH, Natour T, Case AJ. Innate and adaptive immune system consequences of post-traumatic stress disorder. Auton Neurosci 2024; 252:103159. [PMID: 38428324 DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2024.103159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
In the field of psychiatry, biological markers are rarely, if ever, used in the diagnosis of mental health disorders. Clinicians rely primarily on patient histories and behavioral symptoms to identify specific psychopathologies, which makes diagnosis highly subjective. Moreover, therapies for mental health disorders are aimed specifically at attenuating behavioral manifestations, which overlooks the pathophysiological indices of the disease. This is highly evident in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) where inflammation and immune system perturbations are becoming increasingly described. Further, patients with PTSD possess significantly elevated risks of developing comorbid inflammatory diseases such as autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases, which are likely linked (though not fully proven) to the apparent dysregulation of the immune system after psychological trauma. To date, there is little to no evidence that demonstrates current PTSD therapies are able to reverse the increased risk for psychological trauma-induced inflammatory diseases, which suggests the behavioral and somatic consequences of PTSD may not be tightly coupled. This observation provides an opportunity to explore unique mechanisms outside of the brain that contribute to the long-term pathology of PTSD. Herein, we provide an overview of neuroimmune mechanisms, describe what is known regarding innate and adaptive immunity in PTSD, and suggest new directions that are needed to advance the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatlock H Lauten
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States; Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States
| | - Tamara Natour
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States; Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States
| | - Adam J Case
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States; Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States.
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Lang AJ, Hamblen JL, Holtzheimer P, Kelly U, Norman SB, Riggs D, Schnurr PP, Wiechers I. A clinician's guide to the 2023 VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder. J Trauma Stress 2024; 37:19-34. [PMID: 38184799 DOI: 10.1002/jts.23013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
A clinical practice guideline (CPG) is a rigorously established set of recommendations based on currently available evidence about the efficacy, safety, acceptability, and feasibility of interventions to assist with clinical decision-making. The 2023 Department of Veterans Affairs /Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline for Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder is described herein. The CPG recommendations are accompanied by a clinical algorithm, which incorporates principles of evidence-based practice, shared decision-making, and functional and contextual assessments of goals and outcomes. An overview of the CPG recommendations is combined with a discussion of questions that clinicians and patients may face in implementing the CPG and suggestions for how to effectively work with the CPG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel J Lang
- VA San Diego Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH), San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jessica L Hamblen
- National Center for PTSD, White River Junction, Vermont, USA
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Paul Holtzheimer
- National Center for PTSD, White River Junction, Vermont, USA
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Ursula Kelly
- VA Atlanta Healthcare System, Decatur, Georgia, USA
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sonya B Norman
- VA San Diego Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH), San Diego, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- National Center for PTSD, White River Junction, Vermont, USA
| | - David Riggs
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Paula P Schnurr
- National Center for PTSD, White River Junction, Vermont, USA
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Ilse Wiechers
- Veterans Health Administration Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Bücker J, Czepielewski LS. Psychosocial support urgently needed in high-risk flood areas in southern Brazil. Lancet Psychiatry 2024; 11:97. [PMID: 38245025 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(23)00408-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Joana Bücker
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Vale do Taquari (UNIVATES), Lajeado, Brazil
| | - L S Czepielewski
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Instituto de Psicologia, Serviço Social, Saúde e Comunicação Humana, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil.
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Short NA, Brady M, Lechner M, Serrano K, McLean SA. Acceptability of a smartphone-based intervention targeting anxiety sensitivity among women receiving emergency care after sexual assault: A pilot uncontrolled trial. J Trauma Stress 2023; 36:1056-1065. [PMID: 37798854 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety sensitivity (AS), defined as the fear of anxious arousal, is a promising therapeutic target to reduce posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom development after trauma exposure. Computerized AS interventions have been shown to be acceptable to individuals with PTSD symptoms and effective in achieving symptom reduction; however, to our knowledge, no research has examined AS interventions initiated in the immediate aftermath of trauma. We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and credibility of a brief (i.e., ∼75 min of psychoeducation, ∼2 hr of ecological momentary intervention) smartphone-based AS intervention in a pilot study. Participants were 12 women who presented for emergency care after sexual assault with high levels of peritraumatic PTSD symptoms. Most women who started the intervention completed the majority of it and reported using the techniques provided. Results indicated that participants perceived the intervention as logical and believed it would help in reducing their symptoms. Qualitative feedback was mostly positive but also indicated concern regarding intervention length. Although not the purpose of the study, results indicated medium-to-large, statistically significant decreases in AS, g = 0.74, and PTSD symptoms, g = 1.20. Overall, these preliminary findings suggest that this novel smartphone-based intervention targeting AS was feasible, acceptable, and credible in this small sample of women receiving emergency care following sexual assault. Treatment outcome data must be considered in the context of natural recovery; however, these promising preliminary feasibility, acceptability, and credibility data support continuing to pilot the feasibility and potential efficacy of the intervention to reduce AS and prolonged PTSD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A Short
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Mahlon Brady
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Megan Lechner
- Forensic Nurse Examining Team, University of Colorado Health Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
| | - Karen Serrano
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Samuel A McLean
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Ridings LE, Espeleta HC, Litvitskiy N, Higgins K, Bravoco O, Davidson TM, Streck CJ, Kassam-Adams N, Ruggiero KJ. Behavioral Health Screening and Follow-Up Services in Pediatric Trauma Centers Across the United States. J Pediatr Psychol 2023; 48:960-969. [PMID: 37794767 PMCID: PMC10653355 DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsad067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Over 120,000 U.S. children are hospitalized for traumatic injury annually, a major risk factor for behavioral health problems such as acute/posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) are well positioned to address the recent mandate by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma to screen and refer for behavioral health symptoms. However, most PTCs do not provide screening or intervention, or use varying approaches. The objective of this mixed-methods study was to assess PTCs' availability of behavioral health resources and identify barriers and facilitators to service implementation following pediatric traumatic injury (PTI). METHODS Survey data were collected from 83 Level I (75%) and Level II (25%) PTC program managers and coordinators across 36 states. Semistructured, qualitative interviews with participants (N = 24) assessed the feasibility of implementing behavioral health education, screening, and treatment for PTI patients and caregivers. RESULTS Roughly half of centers provide behavioral health screening, predominantly administered by nurses for acute stress/PTSD. Themes from qualitative interviews suggest that (1) service provision varies by behavioral health condition, resource, delivery method, and provider; (2) centers are enthusiastic about service implementation including screening, inpatient brief interventions, and follow-up assessment; but (3) require training and lack staff, time, and funding to implement services. CONCLUSIONS Sustainable, scalable, evidence-based service models are needed to assess behavioral health symptoms after PTI. Leadership investment is needed for successful implementation. Technology-enhanced, stepped-care approaches seem feasible and acceptable to PTCs to ensure the availability of personalized care while addressing barriers to sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh E Ridings
- College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, USA
| | | | | | - Kristen Higgins
- College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, USA
| | - Olivia Bravoco
- College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, USA
| | | | - Christian J Streck
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, USA
| | - Nancy Kassam-Adams
- Center for Injury Research & Prevention, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, USA
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, USA
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O'Doherty L, Whelan M, Carter GJ, Brown K, Tarzia L, Hegarty K, Feder G, Brown SJ. Psychosocial interventions for survivors of rape and sexual assault experienced during adulthood. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 10:CD013456. [PMID: 37795783 PMCID: PMC10552071 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd013456.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse has lifelong impacts for mental health and well-being. Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) are among the most common interventions offered to survivors to alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological impacts. Beyond such trauma-focused cognitive and behavioural approaches, there is a range of low-intensity interventions along with new and emerging non-exposure based approaches (trauma-sensitive yoga, Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories and Lifespan Integration). This review presents a timely assessment of international evidence on any type of psychosocial intervention offered to individuals who experienced rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse as adults. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of psychosocial interventions on mental health and well-being for survivors of rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse experienced during adulthood. SEARCH METHODS In January 2022, we searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, 12 other databases and three trials registers. We also checked reference lists of included studies, contacted authors and experts, and ran forward citation searches. SELECTION CRITERIA Any study that allocated individuals or clusters of individuals by a random or quasi-random method to a psychosocial intervention that promoted recovery and healing following exposure to rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse in those aged 18 years and above compared with no or minimal intervention, usual care, wait-list, pharmacological only or active comparison(s). We classified psychosocial interventions according to Cochrane Common Mental Disorders Group's psychological therapies list. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. MAIN RESULTS We included 36 studies (1991 to 2021) with 3992 participants randomly assigned to 60 experimental groups (3014; 76%) and 23 inactive comparator conditions (978, 24%). The experimental groups consisted of: 32 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT); 10 behavioural interventions; three integrative therapies; three humanist; five other psychologically oriented interventions; and seven other psychosocial interventions. Delivery involved 1 to 20 (median 11) sessions of traditional face-to-face (41) or other individual formats (four); groups (nine); or involved computer-only interaction (six). Most studies were conducted in the USA (n = 26); two were from South Africa; two from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; with single studies from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Five studies did not disclose a funding source, and all disclosed sources were public funding. Participants were invited from a range of settings: from the community, through the media, from universities and in places where people might seek help for their mental health (e.g. war veterans), in the aftermath of sexual trauma (sexual assault centres and emergency departments) or for problems that accompany the experience of sexual violence (e.g. sexual health/primary care clinics). Participants randomised were 99% women (3965 participants) with just 27 men. Half were Black, African or African-American (1889 participants); 40% White/Caucasian (1530 participants); and 10% represented a range of other ethnic backgrounds (396 participants). The weighted mean age was 35.9 years (standard deviation (SD) 9.6). Eighty-two per cent had experienced rape or sexual assault in adulthood (3260/3992). Twenty-two studies (61%) required fulfilling a measured PTSD diagnostic threshold for inclusion; however, 94% of participants (2239/2370) were reported as having clinically relevant PTSD symptoms at entry. The comparison of psychosocial interventions with inactive controls detected that there may be a beneficial effect at post-treatment favouring psychosocial interventions in reducing PTSD (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.22 to -0.44; 16 studies, 1130 participants; low-certainty evidence; large effect size based on Cohen's D); and depression (SMD -0.82, 95% CI -1.17 to -0.48; 12 studies, 901 participants; low-certainty evidence; large effect size). Psychosocial interventions, however, may not increase the risk of dropout from treatment compared to controls, with a risk ratio of 0.85 (95% CI 0.51 to 1.44; 5 studies, 242 participants; low-certainty evidence). Seven of the 23 studies (with 801 participants) comparing a psychosocial intervention to an inactive control reported on adverse events, with 21 events indicated. Psychosocial interventions may not increase the risk of adverse events compared to controls, with a risk ratio of 1.92 (95% CI 0.30 to 12.41; 6 studies; 622 participants; very low-certainty evidence). We conducted an assessment of risk of bias using the RoB 2 tool on a total of 49 reported results. A high risk of bias affected 43% of PTSD results; 59% for depression symptoms; 40% for treatment dropout; and one-third for adverse events. The greatest sources of bias were problems with randomisation and missing outcome data. Heterogeneity was also high, ranging from I2 = 30% (adverse events) to I2 = 87% (PTSD). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Our review suggests that survivors of rape, sexual violence and sexual abuse during adulthood may experience a large reduction in post-treatment PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms after experiencing a psychosocial intervention, relative to comparison groups. Psychosocial interventions do not seem to increase dropout from treatment or adverse events/effects compared to controls. However, the number of dropouts and study attrition were generally high, potentially missing harms of exposure to interventions and/or research participation. Also, the differential effects of specific intervention types needs further investigation. We conclude that a range of behavioural and CBT-based interventions may improve the mental health of survivors of rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse in the short term. Therefore, the needs and preferences of individuals must be considered in selecting suitable approaches to therapy and support. The primary outcome in this review focused on the post-treatment period and the question about whether benefits are sustained over time persists. However, attaining such evidence from studies that lack an active comparison may be impractical and even unethical. Thus, we suggest that studies undertake head-to-head comparisons of different intervention types; in particular, of novel, emerging therapies, with one-year plus follow-up periods. Additionally, researchers should focus on the therapeutic benefits and costs for subpopulations such as male survivors and those living with complex PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna O'Doherty
- Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
- Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Maxine Whelan
- Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
| | - Grace J Carter
- Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
| | - Katherine Brown
- Department of Psychology and Sports Science, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
| | - Laura Tarzia
- Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- The Royal Women's Hospital, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kelsey Hegarty
- Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- The Royal Women's Hospital, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gene Feder
- Centre for Academic Primary Care, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Sarah J Brown
- Faculty of Arts, Business and Law, Law School, USC: University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
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Dworkin ER, Schallert M, Lee CM, Kaysen D. Pilot randomized clinical trial of an app-based early intervention to reduce PTSD and alcohol use following sexual assault. PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA : THEORY, RESEARCH, PRACTICE AND POLICY 2023:2023-60287-001. [PMID: 37011153 PMCID: PMC10545809 DOI: 10.1037/tra0001460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sexual assault is associated with high risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and PTSD often co-occurs with alcohol misuse. Most sexual assault survivors do not access early preventative interventions for such conditions. App-based interventions are a promising means to extend the reach of early interventions and thereby reduce risk of chronic PTSD and alcohol misuse. METHOD This study was a pilot randomized clinical trial of an app-based early intervention with phone coaching (THRIVE) for survivors of past-10-week sexual assault (NCT#: NCT03703258). Intended active components of the THRIVE app are daily cognitive restructuring, daily activity scheduling, and as-needed relationally focused exercises, supported by coaching calls. Forty-one adult female survivors of recent sexual assault with elevated posttraumatic stress and drinking were randomized to intervention or control (symptom-monitoring app with phone coaching). Participants in both conditions were encouraged to use their respective app for 21 days and completed self-report symptom assessments at baseline, postintervention, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS At 3-month follow-up, the between-group effect size favored intervention for posttraumatic stress (d = -0.70), intoxication frequency (d = -0.62), and drinking hours per week (d = -0.39). More participants evidenced reliable change in intervention versus control for posttraumatic stress (OR = 2.67) and alcohol problems (OR = 3.05) at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS The general direction of effects indicates that THRIVE, coupled with coaching, reduces risk for PTSD and alcohol outcomes beyond coached monitoring. These findings suggest that apps like THRIVE may provide an option for early intervention for sexual assault survivors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Dworkin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine
| | - Macey Schallert
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine
| | - Christine M Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine
| | - Debra Kaysen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine
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Bragesjö M, Arnberg FK, Olofsdotter Lauri K, Aspvall K, Särnholm J, Andersson E. Condensed Internet-delivered prolonged exposure provided soon after trauma: a randomised trial. Psychol Med 2023; 53:1989-1998. [PMID: 37310324 PMCID: PMC10106292 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721003706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to trauma is common and can have a profoundly negative impact on mental health. Interventions based on trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy have shown promising results to facilitate recovery. The current trial evaluated whether a novel, scalable and digital early version of the intervention, Condensed Internet-Delivered Prolonged Exposure (CIPE), is effective in reducing post-traumatic stress symptoms. METHOD A single-site randomised controlled trial with self-referred adults (N = 102) exposed to trauma within the last 2 months. The participants were randomised to 3 weeks of CIPE or a waiting list (WL) for 7 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline, week 1-3 (primary endpoint), week 4-7 (secondary endpoint) and at 6-month follow-up. The primary outcome measure was PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). RESULTS The main analysis according to the intention-to-treat principle indicated statistically significant reductions in symptoms of post-traumatic stress in the CIPE group as compared to the WL group. The between-group effect size was moderate at week 3 (bootstrapped d = 0.70; 95% CI 0.33-1.06) and large at week 7 (bootstrapped d = 0.83; 95% CI 0.46-1.19). Results in the intervention group were maintained at the 6-month follow-up. No severe adverse events were found. CONCLUSIONS CIPE is a scalable intervention that may confer early benefits on post-traumatic stress symptoms in survivors of trauma. The next step is to compare this intervention to an active control group and also investigate its effects when implemented in regular care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bragesjö
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Nobels väg 9, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Filip K. Arnberg
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, National Centre for Disaster Psychiatry, 751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
- Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Klara Olofsdotter Lauri
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Nobels väg 9, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristina Aspvall
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
- Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Josefin Särnholm
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Nobels väg 9, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Andersson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychology, Nobels väg 9, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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11
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Dworkin ER, Jaffe AE, Bedard-Gilligan M, Fitzpatrick S. PTSD in the Year Following Sexual Assault: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2023; 24:497-514. [PMID: 34275368 PMCID: PMC8766599 DOI: 10.1177/15248380211032213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sexual assault is associated with higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than other traumas, and the course of PTSD may differ by trauma type. However, the course of PTSD after sexual assault has not been summarized. The aim of this meta-analysis was to identify the prevalence and severity of PTSD and changes to the average rate of recovery in the 12 months following sexual assault. METHOD Authors searched four databases for prospective studies published before April 2020 and sought relevant unpublished data. Eligible studies assessed PTSD in at least 10 survivors of sexual assault in at least two time points, starting within 3 months postassault. Random effects linear-linear piecewise models were used to identify changes in average recovery rate and produce model-implied estimates of monthly point prevalence and mean symptom severity. RESULTS Meta-analysis of 22 unique samples (N = 2,106) indicated that 74.58% (95% confidence interval [CI]: [67.21, 81.29]) and 41.49% (95% CI: [32.36, 50.92]) of individuals met diagnostic criteria for PTSD at the first and 12th month following sexual assault, respectively. PTSD symptom severity was 47.94% (95% CI: [41.27, 54.61]) and 29.91% (95% CI: [23.10, 36.73]) of scales' maximum severity at the first and 12th month following sexual assault, respectively. Most symptom recovery occurred within the first 3 months following sexual assault, after which point the average rate of recovery slowed. CONCLUSIONS Findings indicate that PTSD is common and severe following sexual assault, and the first 3 months postassault may be a critical period for natural recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Dworkin
- 12353University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Anna E Jaffe
- University of Nebraska, Lincoln-Lincoln, NE, USA
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12
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Kinney KL, Rao U, Bailey B, Hellman N, Kelly C, McAfee NW, Morris MC. Dynamics of diurnal cortisol and alpha-amylase secretion and their associations with PTSD onset in recent interpersonal trauma survivors. Psychol Med 2023; 53:2263-2273. [PMID: 37310311 PMCID: PMC10264829 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721004050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysfunction in major stress response systems during the acute aftermath of trauma may contribute to risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study investigated how PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity, depressive symptoms, and childhood trauma uniquely relate to diurnal neuroendocrine secretion (cortisol and alpha-amylase rhythms) in women who recently experienced interpersonal trauma compared to non-traumatized controls (NTCs). METHOD Using a longitudinal design, we examined diurnal cortisol and alpha-amylase rhythms in 98 young women (n = 57 exposed to recent interpersonal trauma, n = 41 NTCs). Participants provided saliva samples and completed symptom measures at baseline and 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up. RESULTS Multilevel models (MLMs) revealed lower waking cortisol predicted the development of PTSD in trauma survivors and distinguished at-risk women from NTCs. Women with greater childhood trauma exposure exhibited flatter diurnal cortisol slopes. Among trauma-exposed individuals, lower waking cortisol levels were associated with higher concurrent PTSD symptom severity. Regarding alpha-amylase, MLMs revealed women with greater childhood trauma exposure exhibited higher waking alpha-amylase and slower diurnal alpha-amylase increase. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest lower waking cortisol in the acute aftermath of trauma may be implicated in PTSD onset and maintenance. Findings also suggest childhood trauma may predict a different pattern of dysfunction in stress response systems following subsequent trauma exposure than the stress system dynamics associated with PTSD risk; childhood trauma appears to be associated with flattened diurnal cortisol and alpha-amylase slopes, as well as higher waking alpha-amylase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry L. Kinney
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Uma Rao
- Departments of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, Pediatrics and Psychological Science, and Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California – Irvine, California, USA
- Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Brooklynn Bailey
- Department of Psychology, the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Natalie Hellman
- Department of Psychology, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Chris Kelly
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Nicholas W. McAfee
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Matthew C. Morris
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
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13
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Schultebraucks K, Stevens JS, Michopoulos V, Maples-Keller J, Lyu J, Smith RN, Rothbaum BO, Ressler KJ, Galatzer-Levy IR, Powers A. Development and validation of a brief screener for posttraumatic stress disorder risk in emergency medical settings. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2023; 81:46-50. [PMID: 36764261 PMCID: PMC10866012 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2023.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Predicting risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the acute care setting is challenging given the pace and acute care demands in the emergency department (ED) and the infeasibility of using time-consuming assessments. Currently, no accurate brief screening for long-term PTSD risk is routinely used in the ED. One instrument widely used in the ED is the 27-item Immediate Stress Reaction Checklist (ISRC). The aim of this study was to develop a short screener using a machine learning approach and to investigate whether accurate PTSD prediction in the ED can be achieved with substantially fewer items than the IRSC. METHOD This prospective longitudinal cohort study examined the development and validation of a brief screening instrument in two independent samples, a model development sample (N = 253) and an external validation sample (N = 93). We used a feature selection algorithm to identify a minimal subset of features of the ISRC and tested this subset in a predictive model to investigate if we can accurately predict long-term PTSD outcomes. RESULTS We were able to identify a reduced subset of 5 highly predictive features of the ISRC in the model development sample (AUC = 0.80), and we were able to validate those findings in the external validation sample (AUC = 0.84) to discriminate non-remitting vs. resilient trajectories. CONCLUSION This study developed and validated a brief 5-item screener in the ED setting, which may help to improve the diagnostic process of PTSD in the acute care setting and help ED clinicians plan follow-up care when patients are still in contact with the healthcare system. This could reduce the burden on patients and decrease the risk of chronic PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Schultebraucks
- Department of Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA; Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA.
| | - J S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation, Atlanta Veterans' Affairs Health Care System, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - V Michopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - J Maples-Keller
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - J Lyu
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - R N Smith
- Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Behavioral, Social and Health Education Sciences, Emory University School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - B O Rothbaum
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - K J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - I R Galatzer-Levy
- Department of Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - A Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Haugen T, Halvorsen JØ, Friborg O, Simpson MR, Mork PJ, Mikkelsen G, Elklit A, Rothbaum BO, Schei B, Hagemann C. Modified prolonged exposure therapy as Early Intervention after Rape (The EIR-study): study protocol for a multicenter randomized add-on superiority trial. Trials 2023; 24:126. [PMID: 36810120 PMCID: PMC9942301 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-023-07147-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sexual assault and rape are the traumatic life events with the highest probability for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can have devastating consequences for those afflicted by the condition. Studies indicate that modified prolonged exposure (mPE) therapy may be effective in preventing the development of PTSD in recently traumatized individuals, and especially for people who have experienced sexual assault. If a brief, manualized early intervention can prevent or reduce post-traumatic symptoms in women who have recently experienced rape, healthcare services targeted for these populations (i.e., sexual assault centers, SACs) should consider implementing such interventions as part of routine care. METHODS/DESIGN This is a multicenter randomized controlled add-on superiority trial that enrolls patients attending sexual assault centers within 72 h after rape or attempted rape. The objective is to assess whether mPE shortly after rape can prevent the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Patients will be randomized to either mPE plus treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU alone. The primary outcome is the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms 3 months after trauma. Secondary outcomes will be symptoms of depression, sleep difficulties, pelvic floor hyperactivity, and sexual dysfunction. The first 22 subjects will constitute an internal pilot trial to test acceptance of the intervention and feasibility of the assessment battery. DISCUSSION This study will guide further research and clinical initiatives for implementing strategies for preventing post-traumatic stress symptoms after rape and provide new knowledge about which women may benefit the most from such initiatives and for revising existing treatment guidelines within this area. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05489133. Registered on 3 August 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Haugen
- Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway.
- St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Pb. 3250 Torgarden, 7006, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Joar Øveraas Halvorsen
- Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
- St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Pb. 3250 Torgarden, 7006, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Oddgeir Friborg
- Department of Psychology, The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), Pb. 6050 Langnes, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Melanie Rae Simpson
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Pb. 8905, N-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Paul Jarle Mork
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Pb. 8905, N-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Gustav Mikkelsen
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Pb. 3250 Torgarden, 7006, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ask Elklit
- National Danish center for Psychotraumatology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense, Denmark
| | - Barbara O Rothbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Program and the Trauma and Anxiety Recovery Program, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA
| | - Berit Schei
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Pb. 8905, N-7491, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Pb. 3250 Sluppen, NO-7006, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Cecilie Hagemann
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Pb. 3250 Sluppen, NO-7006, Trondheim, Norway
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15
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Hahn CK, Kilimnik CD, Brady KT, Marx BP, Rothbaum BO, Saladin ME, Gilmore AK, Metts CL, Back SE. Early intervention using written exposure therapy for PTSD and AUD symptoms following sexual assault: Description of design and methodology. Contemp Clin Trials 2023; 125:107002. [PMID: 36436732 PMCID: PMC9989773 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.107002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The co-occurrence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is common following sexual assault and associated with more severe symptomology and increased likelihood of sexual revictimization. Integrated interventions aimed at reducing PTSD and AUD symptoms following recent sexual assault are needed and should address barriers to care and early treatment termination. The proposed study will test a novel, brief (5 to 7 sessions) intervention that integrates Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for AUD, and is initiated within the first six weeks post-assault. In Phase 1, qualitative analysis of content gathered during focus groups with treatment providers will be conducted to inform intervention development. In Phase 2, a proof-of-concept pilot study (n = 10) of the intervention, Substance Use Skills Training and Exposure Post-Sexual Assault (STEPS), will be conducted. In Phase 3, a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) among 54 recent sexual assault survivors will be implemented using the updated manualized STEPS intervention to evaluate feasibility and preliminary efficacy in reducing PTSD and AUD symptoms. Ecological momentary assessments will be used to assess daily alcohol use, craving, affect, intrusions and avoidance. The effects of STEPS on commonly associated symptoms (e.g., depression, substance use) will be examined. The proposed study has the potential to make a significant public health impact by advancing knowledge on the link between sexual assault and co-occurring PTSD and AUD and informing early intervention efforts for this high-risk population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine K Hahn
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St., 2nd Fl. S., MSC 861, Charleston, SC, USA.
| | - Chelsea D Kilimnik
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St., 2nd Fl. S., MSC 861, Charleston, SC, USA.
| | - Kathleen T Brady
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St., 2nd Fl. S., MSC 861, Charleston, SC, USA.
| | - Brian P Marx
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 720 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Barbara O Rothbaum
- Emory School of Medicine, Emory University, 01 Dowman Dr., Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Michael E Saladin
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St., 2nd Fl. S., MSC 861, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Amanda K Gilmore
- Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences, Mark Chaffin Center for Healthy Development, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
| | - Christopher L Metts
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St., 2nd Fl. S., MSC 861, Charleston, SC, USA.
| | - Sudie E Back
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President St., 2nd Fl. S., MSC 861, Charleston, SC, USA; Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 109 Bee St. Charleston, SC 29401, USA.
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16
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Evans CCD, Li W, Jagelaviciute G, Morrison C, Ng R, Brogly SB. Outpatient mental health service use in major trauma survivors: A population-based cohort study from Ontario, Canada. J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2023; 94:350-356. [PMID: 36331353 DOI: 10.1097/ta.0000000000003825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental health is recognized as an important outcome in major trauma survivors. There are limited data on how and when survivors access mental health services. Our objectives were to determine the frequency, timing, and factors associated with outpatient mental health service utilization in major trauma survivors. METHODS We conducted a population-based cohort study using linked administrative data on patients treated for major trauma in Ontario between 2009 and 2017. All trauma survivors were included in the cohort, and composite rates of outpatient mental health service use (family doctor, psychiatrist, or emergency department visits) were compared in the 3 years preinjury and postinjury. We used an exposure crossover study design and negative binomial regression with generalized estimating equations for the analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify patient characteristics associated with mental health service use during the follow-up period. RESULTS There were 37,260 patients included in the cohort, predominantly men (70.8%) from urban areas (84.8%) suffering blunt trauma (89.7%). Among the patients, 47.4% used mental health services during the preinjury period and 61.8% during the postinjury period (absolute increase of 14.4%). Compared with the 3 years preinjury, the rate of mental health service use increased by 80% (rate ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.75-1.77) in the 3 years following injury. Most survivors (62.2%) used services within the first year following discharge. Postinjury mental health service use (adjusted odds ratio, 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-3.7) was most strongly associated with preinjury mental health service use. CONCLUSION Preinjury and postinjury outpatient mental health service use is common in trauma patients, with preinjury service use predictive of ongoing service use. Mental health concerns should be an expected outcome of major trauma and efforts made to implement and expand access to services for injury survivors across trauma systems. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Charles Douglas Evans
- From the Department of Emergency Medicine (C.C.D.E.), Kingston Health Sciences Centre, ICES (C.C.D.E., W.L., S.B.B.), School of Medicine (G.J., C.M., R.N.), and Department of Surgery (S.B.B.), Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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Harb F, Bird CM, Webb EK, Torres L, deRoon-Cassini TA, Larson CL. Experiencing racial discrimination increases vulnerability to PTSD after trauma via peritraumatic dissociation. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2023; 14:2211486. [PMID: 37229524 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2211486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Racial discrimination is a traumatic stressor that increases the risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but mechanisms to explain this relationship remain unclear. Peritraumatic dissociation, the complex process of disorientation, depersonalization, and derealization during a trauma, has been a consistent predictor of PTSD. Experiences of frequent racial discrimination may increase the propensity for peritraumatic dissociation in the context of new traumatic experiences and contribute to PTSD symptoms. However, the role of peritraumatic dissociation in the relationship between experiences of discrimination and PTSD has not been specifically explored.Objective: The current study investigated the role of peritraumatic dissociation in the impact of racial discrimination on PTSD symptoms after a traumatic injury, and the moderating role of gender.Method: One hundred and thirteen Black/African American individuals were recruited from the Emergency Department at a Level I Trauma Center. Two weeks after the trauma, participants self-reported their experiences with racial discrimination and peritraumatic dissociation. At the six-month follow-up appointment, individuals underwent a clinical assessment of their PTSD symptoms.Results: Results of longitudinal mediation analyses showed that peritraumatic dissociation significantly mediated the effect of racial discrimination on PTSD symptoms, after controlling for age and lifetime trauma exposure. A secondary analysis was conducted to examine the moderating role of gender. Gender was not a significant moderator in the model.Conclusions: Findings show that racial discrimination functions as a stressor that impacts how individuals respond to other traumatic events. The novel results suggest a mechanism that explains the relationship between racial discrimination and PTSD symptoms. These findings highlight the need for community spaces where Black Americans can process racial trauma and reduce the propensity to detach from daily, painful realities. Results also show that clinical intervention post-trauma must consider Black Americans' experiences with racial discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Harb
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Claire M Bird
- Trauma Research Consortium, Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - E Kate Webb
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Lucas Torres
- Department of Psychology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Terri A deRoon-Cassini
- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Comprehensive Injury Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Christine L Larson
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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Stenson AF, France JM, Jovanovic T. Getting Better with Age? A Review of Psychophysiological Studies of Fear Extinction Learning Across Development. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023; 64:213-236. [PMID: 37651043 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2023_441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
A critical developmental task is learning what constitutes reliable threat and safety signals in the environment. In humans, atypical fear learning processes are implicated in many mental health conditions, particularly fear and anxiety disorders, pointing to the potential for laboratory measures of fear learning to facilitate early identification of at-risk individuals. This chapter reviews studies of fear learning and extinction learning that incorporate peripheral measures of psychophysiological response and include a developmental sample. Broadly, these studies indicate substantial consistency in differential learning and extinction across development, as assessed with multiple paradigms, across physiological indices. Importantly, though, response coherence across measures (e.g., physiological, neural, and behavioral) was inconsistent across studies. There was also less consistency in results from studies that probed associations between anxiety and fear learning processes. These mixed findings highlight the need for additional examination of when and why there is variability, both across development and in relation to individual differences factors, including mental health, childhood adversity, and sex. In addition, there remains a need for studies that test for developmental change in extinction recall learning and whether stimulus type impacts learning across development. Longitudinal studies designed to address these questions could provide novel insight into the developmental trajectory of fear learning and extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs F Stenson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | - John M France
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
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Li Y, Li N, Zhang L, Liu Y, Zhang T, Li D, Bai D, Liu X, Li L. Predicting PTSD symptoms in firefighters using a fear-potentiated startle paradigm and machine learning. J Affect Disord 2022; 319:294-299. [PMID: 36162659 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
This study develops a fear-potentiated startle paradigm (FPS) and a machine learning approach to accurately predict PTSD symptoms using electrogram data. A three-phase fear-potentiated startle paradigm was designed to assess the conditioning, generalization, and extinction of fear. Electrooculogram and electrocardiogram signals were collected during the FPS. A total of 1107 Chinese firefighters participated in the study. The Chinese version PCL-C was administered to all subjects. A cutoff of 38 or higher is used to indicate PTSD symptoms. Electrogram features were extracted and selected to build a machine learning model to classify individuals. The machine learning model was 5-fold cross validated. The importance of the selected features was calculated. Classification performance metrics were evaluated for the machine learning model. The machine learning model can identify firefighters with a PCL-C score of 38 or above with sensitivity and specificity both above 0.85 when 5-fold cross validated on a 1107-person sample. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model is 0.93. Features related to fear generalization are found to be the most important. The proposed fear-potentiated startle paradigm and machine learning approach can accurately predict PTSD symptoms in Chinese firefighters, which can improve the screening and diagnosis of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanhui Li
- Adai Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Nan Li
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Liqun Zhang
- Adai Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Yanru Liu
- Adai Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | | | - Dai Li
- Adai Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | | | - Xiang Liu
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Lingjiang Li
- Mental Health Institute, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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Powers MB, Douglas ME, Driver S, Sikka S, Hamilton R, Swank C, Callender L, Ochoa C, Bennett M, Stewart N, Chauvin GV, Rothbaum BO, Warren AM. Prevention of posttraumatic stress during inpatient rehabilitation post spinal cord injury: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of Brief Prolonged Exposure Therapy (Brief PE). Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2022; 30:101030. [PMID: 36387992 PMCID: PMC9661669 DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2022.101030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Scant research has focused on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the SCI population, despite high prevalence estimates. Fortunately, prolonged exposure therapy (PE) is a well-researched and highly effective treatment for PTSD. Our recent clinical trial showed that standard 12-session PE was effective for PTSD treatment among inpatients with SCI. Early intervention with brief PE (3-sessions) delivered in the emergency department has also been effective for PTSD prevention, but has not been tested among people post-SCI. Thus, we aim to conduct the first test of the Brief PE intervention to prevent PTSD among patients with SCI. Methods Adults who have experienced a SCI (N = 200) will be randomly assigned during inpatient rehabilitation to either: (a) 3 60-min sessions of Brief PE (intervention group) or (b) treatment as usual (control group). Results The primary outcome measure (PTSD symptoms measured by the PSSI-5) and secondary outcome measures (depression, anxiety, pain, quality of life, sleep disturbance, and resilience) will be assessed at baseline, 1-month, 3-months, and 6-months. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the PE intervention on PTSD and secondary outcomes. Descriptive statistics will examine feasibility and will include the number of participants enrolled, the number of sessions completed, fidelity of Brief PE delivery, and average scores for difficulty and helpfulness of the intervention scales for those randomized to intervention. Conclusions Successful completion of this study will provide an evidence-based program to alleviate posttraumatic distress post spinal cord injury and prevent long-term development of PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark B. Powers
- Baylor Scott & White Spinal Cord Injury Model System, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA
- Corresponding author. Baylor Scott & White Spinal Cord Injury Model System, USA.
| | - Megan E. Douglas
- Baylor Scott & White Spinal Cord Injury Model System, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Simon Driver
- Baylor Scott & White Spinal Cord Injury Model System, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Seema Sikka
- Baylor Scott & White Spinal Cord Injury Model System, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Rita Hamilton
- Baylor Scott & White Spinal Cord Injury Model System, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Chad Swank
- Baylor Scott & White Spinal Cord Injury Model System, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Librada Callender
- Baylor Scott & White Spinal Cord Injury Model System, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Christa Ochoa
- Baylor Scott & White Spinal Cord Injury Model System, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Monica Bennett
- Baylor Scott & White Spinal Cord Injury Model System, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Neil Stewart
- Baylor Scott & White Spinal Cord Injury Model System, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Gregory V. Chauvin
- Baylor Scott & White Spinal Cord Injury Model System, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehabilitation, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Barbara O. Rothbaum
- Baylor Scott & White Spinal Cord Injury Model System, USA
- Emory University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Ann Marie Warren
- Baylor Scott & White Spinal Cord Injury Model System, USA
- Baylor Scott and White Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA
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21
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Rowland GE, Mekawi Y, Michopoulos V, Powers A, Fani N, Bradley B, Ressler KJ, Jovanovic T, Stevens JS. Distinctive impacts of sexual trauma versus non-sexual trauma on PTSD profiles in highly trauma-exposed, Black women. J Affect Disord 2022; 317:329-338. [PMID: 36055528 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.08.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior findings suggest that psychopathology following interpersonal trauma or assaultive violence may present differently from prototypical posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, whether this is true for sexual trauma (ST) in the context of other salient lifetime traumatic experiences is yet unknown. We predicted that ST exposure may result in higher avoidance and numbing symptoms and blunted fear responses, relative to non-sexual trauma (NST), particularly if ST occurred during childhood. METHODS Participants were n = 5163 Black women recruited in an urban public hospital. We investigated effects of ST on PTSD symptoms, fear-potentiated startle (FPS) response (n = 285), and amygdala reactivity and habituation to social threat cues with fMRI (n = 95). RESULTS ST was associated with greater PTSD symptoms (p = 2.64 × 10-21), but this was observed across all symptom clusters. Women who experienced repeated ST in both childhood and adulthood showed greater PTSD (p = .0009) and numbing symptoms (p = .002). In the FPS paradigm, the ST group startled more on all blocks and stimulus types than the NST group (p = .004). Developmental timing of ST did not influence startle magnitude. ST was not associated with amygdala habituation or reactivity. LIMITATIONS Generalizability is limited to Black women with a high trauma burden. Associations are cross-sectional, limiting causal conclusions. CONCLUSION While survivors of ST may present with more severe PTSD symptoms, their profiles are not characteristically different from similar NST controls. Childhood sexual abuse exposure alone did not result in a unique symptom profile. ST represents a uniquely high-burden stressor with likelihood for more severe posttraumatic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace E Rowland
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yara Mekawi
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Vasiliki Michopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Negar Fani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bekh Bradley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta VA Health Care System, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta VA Health Care System, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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22
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Pace-Schott EF, Seo J, Bottary R. The influence of sleep on fear extinction in trauma-related disorders. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 22:100500. [PMID: 36545012 PMCID: PMC9761387 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), fear and anxiety become dysregulated following psychologically traumatic events. Regulation of fear and anxiety involves both high-level cognitive processes such as cognitive reattribution and low-level, partially automatic memory processes such as fear extinction, safety learning and habituation. These latter processes are believed to be deficient in PTSD. While insomnia and nightmares are characteristic symptoms of existing PTSD, abundant recent evidence suggests that sleep disruption prior to and acute sleep disturbance following traumatic events both can predispose an individual to develop PTSD. Sleep promotes consolidation in multiple memory systems and is believed to also do so for low-level emotion-regulatory memory processes. Consequently sleep disruption may contribute to the etiology of PTSD by interfering with consolidation in low-level emotion-regulatory memory systems. During the first weeks following a traumatic event, when in the course of everyday life resilient individuals begin to acquire and consolidate these low-level emotion-regulatory memories, those who will develop PTSD symptoms may fail to do so. This deficit may, in part, result from alterations of sleep that interfere with their consolidation, such as REM fragmentation, that have also been found to presage later PTSD symptoms. Here, sleep disruption in PTSD as well as fear extinction, safety learning and habituation and their known alterations in PTSD are first briefly reviewed. Then neural processes that occur during the early post-trauma period that might impede low-level emotion regulatory processes through alterations of sleep quality and physiology will be considered. Lastly, recent neuroimaging evidence from a fear conditioning and extinction paradigm in patient groups and their controls will be considered along with one possible neural process that may contribute to a vulnerability to PTSD following trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward F. Pace-Schott
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Corresponding author. Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital - East, CNY 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
| | - Jeehye Seo
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Korea University, Department of Brain & Cognitive Engineering, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ryan Bottary
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
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23
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Pedraza LK, Sierra RO, de Oliveira Alvares L. Systems consolidation and fear memory generalisation as a potential target for trauma-related disorders. World J Biol Psychiatry 2022; 23:653-665. [PMID: 35001808 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2022.2027010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Fear memory generalisation is a central hallmark in the broad range of anxiety and trauma-related disorders. Recent findings suggest that fear generalisation is closely related to hippocampal dependency during retrieval. In this review, we describe the current understanding about memory generalisation and its potential influence in fear attenuation through pharmacological and behavioural interventions. In light of systems consolidation framework, we propose that keeping memory precision could be a key step to enhance therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizeth K Pedraza
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Memória, Biophysics Department, Biosciences Institute, 91.501-970, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Rodrigo O Sierra
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Memória, Biophysics Department, Biosciences Institute, 91.501-970, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Physiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Lucas de Oliveira Alvares
- Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Memória, Biophysics Department, Biosciences Institute, 91.501-970, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Institute of Health Sciences, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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24
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Development of an Evidence-Informed Solution to Emotional Distress in Public Safety Personnel and Healthcare Workers: The Social Support, Tracking Distress, Education, and Discussion CommunitY (STEADY) Program. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10091777. [PMID: 36141388 PMCID: PMC9498760 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10091777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Public safety personnel (PSP) and healthcare workers (HCWs) are frequently exposed to traumatic events and experience an increased rate of adverse mental health outcomes compared to the public. Some organizations have implemented wellness programming to mitigate this issue. To our knowledge, no programs were developed collaboratively by researchers and knowledge users considering knowledge translation and implementation science frameworks to include all evidence-informed elements of posttraumatic stress prevention. The Social Support, Tracking Distress, Education, and Discussion Community (STEADY) Program was developed to fill this gap. It includes (1) peer partnering; (2) distress tracking; (3) psychoeducation; (4) peer support groups and voluntary psychological debriefing following critical incidents; (5) community-building activities. This paper reports on the narrative literature review that framed the development of the STEADY framework and introduces its key elements. If successful, STEADY has the potential to improve the mental well-being of PSP and HCWs across Canada and internationally.
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25
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Grau AS, Xie H, Redfern RE, Moussa M, Wang X, Shih CH. Effects of acute pain medications on posttraumatic stress symptoms in early aftermath of trauma. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2022; 37:201-205. [PMID: 35503040 PMCID: PMC9357097 DOI: 10.1097/yic.0000000000000413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) develop as sequelae from traumatic injuries. Limited studies suggest that using opioids to reduce acute pain immediately after trauma may also reduce subsequent PTSS, but other pain medications rarely have been examined for preventing acute PTSS. The current study examined the effects of commonly used pain medications, opioid and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), on PTSS after acute traumatic injuries. Participants ( n = 71) were categorized into opioid or NSAID group according to their medical records and self-reported medication use. Their PTSS were assessed using posttraumatic stress disorder checklist twice within 2 weeks after trauma. Participants' pain levels reduced from pretreatment to follow-up in both groups, F (1, 55) = 6.696, P = 0.012, partial η 2 = 0.109. Interestingly, a significant interaction between time and medication group on PTSS reached statistical significance, F (1, 69) = 6.014, P = 0.017, partial η 2 = 0.080. Follow-up analyses revealed that this interaction was driven by a significant PTSS reduction only in opioid but not in NSAID group. These findings suggested that pain reduction alone is not sufficient to reduce acute PTSS in the NSAID group, highlighting the need to continue further investigations into the mechanisms by which opioids reduce PTSS in the early posttrauma period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron S. Grau
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, OH 43614
| | - Hong Xie
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, OH 43614
| | | | - Mohamad Moussa
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, OH 43614
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, OH 43614
| | - Chia-Hao Shih
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, OH 43614
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26
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Swift KM, Thomas CL, Balkin TJ, Lowery-Gionta EG, Matson LM. Acute sleep interventions as an avenue for treatment of trauma-associated disorders. J Clin Sleep Med 2022; 18:2291-2312. [PMID: 35678060 PMCID: PMC9435330 DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.10074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Scientific evidence that acute, posttrauma sleep disturbances (eg, nightmares and insomnia) can contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of trauma-induced disorders is compelling. Sleep disturbances precipitating from trauma are uniquely predictive of daytime posttrauma symptom occurrence and severity, as well as subsequent onset of mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Conversely, adequate sleep during the acute posttrauma period is associated with reduced likelihood of adverse mental health outcomes. These findings, which are broadly consistent with what is known about the role of sleep in the regulation of emotion, suggest that the acute posttrauma period constitutes a "window of opportunity" during which treatment of sleep disturbances may be especially effective for preventing or mitigating progression of aberrant psychophysiological processes. At this point, the weight of the scientific evidence supporting this possibility warrants initiation of clinical trials to confirm the benefits of targeted prophylactic sleep enhancement, and to establish treatment guidelines as appropriate. CITATION Swift KM, Thomas CL, Balkin TJ, Lowery-Gionta EG, Matson LM. Acute sleep interventions as an avenue for treatment of trauma-associated disorders. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(9):2291-2312.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M. Swift
- Medical Readiness Systems Biology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Connie L. Thomas
- Department of Sleep Medicine, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
- Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Thomas J. Balkin
- Behavioral Biology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Emily G. Lowery-Gionta
- Behavioral Biology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Liana M. Matson
- Behavioral Biology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland
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27
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Nguyen J, Whiteside LK, Bulger EM, Veach L, Moloney K, Russo J, Nehra D, Wang J, Zatzick DF. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and alcohol and drug use comorbidity at 25 US level I trauma centers. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open 2022; 7:e000913. [PMID: 35979039 PMCID: PMC9358953 DOI: 10.1136/tsaco-2022-000913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Questions regarding the extent to which post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is comorbid with alcohol and drug use are particularly germane in an era when the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT) is considering policy requiring screening, intervention and/or referral services for patients presenting with psychological sequalae of traumatic injury. Literature review revealed few multisite trauma-center-based investigations that have assessed the association between PTSD symptoms and alcohol and drug use comorbidities in injured patients. Methods This investigation was a secondary analysis of baseline data collected prior to randomization in a 25-site trauma center pragmatic clinical trial. All 635 patients included in the investigation had elevated PTSD symptom levels at the time of trauma center admission. Self-report questionnaire screening, laboratory toxicology results, and electronic health record data were combined to assess the frequencies of alcohol, stimulant (i.e., amphetamine and cocaine), opioid and marijuana use comorbidities for injured patients. Logistic regression was used to assess the associations between demographic and injury characteristics and alcohol and drug use comorbidity. Results The frequency of patients with one or more alcohol or substance use comorbidity was between 62% and 79%. Over 50% of patients were positive for one or more alcohol or cannabis comorbidity. Approximately 26% of patients were positive for stimulants and 10% for opioid comorbidity. Discussion This multisite investigation suggests that between 62% and 79% of hospitalized injury survivors with elevated PTSD symptoms have one or more alcohol or drug use comorbidity. Orchestrated ACS-COT policy and trauma center service delivery development should incorporate the key finding that a substantial majority of patients with high levels of psychological distress (eg, elevated PTSD symptoms) may have alcohol and drug use comorbidities. Level of evidence Level II (epidemiological investigation of untreated controls from a multisite randomized clinical trial) Trial registration number NCT02655354.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jefferson Nguyen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lauren K Whiteside
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Eileen M Bulger
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Laura Veach
- Department of Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kathleen Moloney
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Joan Russo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Deepika Nehra
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Douglas F Zatzick
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
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28
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McBain SA, Stoycos S, Doenges T. Breaking Silos to Address Medical Trauma: The Need for Integration of Trauma and Health Psychology Training. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2022:10.1007/s10880-022-09897-2. [PMID: 35841442 DOI: 10.1007/s10880-022-09897-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following a traumatic injury is a significant public health concern impacting approximately a third of traumatically injured patients. In 2018, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma recommended implementation of PTSD screening and brief intervention in level 1 trauma centers to meet the mental health needs of this underserved population. In March 2022, ACS revised its standards to include a requirement for mental health screening and referral process in level 1 and level 2 trauma centers. However, implementation of these programs has been limited. One barrier to implementation has been the lack of cross-trained trauma and health psychologists to support the development and implementation of trauma-focused programs in acute and critical care settings. This paper is a call to action to bring together experts in the fields of trauma and health psychology to effectively address training gaps in post-injury PTSD and medical traumatic stress. Through development of trauma and health psychology cross-training models, the field of psychology can collaborate to meet the increasing demand for trauma-focused psychologists in acute and critical care settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sacha A McBain
- Departments of Psychiatry & Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W Markham Street, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Sarah Stoycos
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tim Doenges
- Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
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29
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Sterina E, Michopoulos V, Linnstaedt SD, Neylan TC, Clifford GD, Ethun KF, Lori A, Wingo AP, Rothbaum BO, Ressler KJ, Stevens JS. Time of trauma prospectively affects PTSD symptom severity: The impact of circadian rhythms and cortisol. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 141:105729. [PMID: 35413575 PMCID: PMC9250148 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A key feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disruption of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis feedback sensitivity and cortisol levels. Despite known diurnal rhythmicity of cortisol, there has been little exploration of the circadian timing of the index trauma and consequent cortisol release. Stress-related glucocorticoid pulses have been shown to shift clocks in peripheral organs but not the suprachiasmatic nucleus, uncoupling the central and peripheral clocks. A sample of 425 participants was recruited in the Emergency Department following a DSM-IV-TR Criterion A trauma. The Zeitgeber time of the trauma was indexed in minutes since sunrise, which was hypothesized to covary with circadian blood cortisol levels (high around sunrise and decreasing over the day). Blood samples were collected M(SD)= 4.0(4.0) hours post-trauma. PTSD symptoms six months post-trauma were found to be negatively correlated with trauma time since sunrise (r(233) = -0.15, p = 0.02). The effect remained when adjusting for sex, age, race, clinician-rated severity, education, pre-trauma PTSD symptoms, and time of the blood draw (β = -0.21, p = 0.00057). Cortisol levels did not correlate with blood draw time, consistent with a masking effect of the acute stress response obscuring the underlying circadian rhythm. Interactions between trauma time and expression of NPAS2 (punadjusted=0.042) and TIMELESS (punadjusted=0.029) predicted six-month PTSD symptoms. The interaction of trauma time and cortisol concentration was significantly correlated with the expression of PER1 (padjusted=0.029). The differential effect of time of day on future symptom severity suggests a role of circadian effects in PTSD development, potentially through peripheral clock disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Sterina
- Emory University School of Medicine, 100 Woodruff Circle, Suite 231, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
| | - Vasiliki Michopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sarah D Linnstaedt
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Trauma Recovery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Thomas C Neylan
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gari D Clifford
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kelly F Ethun
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Adriana Lori
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Aliza P Wingo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Veterans Affairs Atlanta Health Care System, Decatur, GA USA
| | - Barbara O Rothbaum
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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30
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Abstract
The study and use of resilience is of the utmost importance to psychodynamic psychiatry. It is deeply ingrained in ideas about well-being and the treatment and care of patients. However, its neurobiology is incompletely understood, its terminology and relation to trauma and coping not well defined, and its efficacy underutilized in clinical practice. This article reviews the scientific literature on resilience, especially as it relates to trauma and coping. It also attempts to point the way for its greater application in psychiatry and mental health by utilizing resilience in more informed and individualized approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahron Friedberg
- Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai in New York City
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31
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A Public Health Perspective of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19116474. [PMID: 35682057 PMCID: PMC9180718 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Trauma exposure is one of the most important and prevalent risk factors for mental and physical ill-health. Prolonged or excessive stress exposure increases the risk of a wide variety of mental and physical symptoms, resulting in a condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The diagnosis might be challenging due to the complex pathophysiology and co-existence with other mental disorders. The prime factor for PTSD development is exposure to a stressor, which variably, along with peritraumatic conditions, affects disease progression and severity. Additionally, many factors are thought to influence the response to the stressor, and hence reshape the natural history and course of the disease. With sufficient knowledge about the disease, preventive and intervenient methods can be implemented to improve the quality of life of the patients and to limit both the medical and economic burden of the disease. This literature review provides a highlight of up-to-date literature on traumatic stress, with a focus on causes or triggers of stress, factors that influence response to stress, disease burden, and the application of the social-ecological public health model of disease prevention. In addition, it addresses therapeutic aspects, ethnic differences in traumatic stress, and future perspectives, including potential biomarkers.
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Weis CN, Webb EK, deRoon-Cassini TA, Larson CL. Emotion Dysregulation Following Trauma: Shared Neurocircuitry of Traumatic Brain Injury and Trauma-Related Psychiatric Disorders. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 91:470-477. [PMID: 34561028 PMCID: PMC8801541 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The psychological trauma associated with events resulting in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important and frequently overlooked factor that may impede brain recovery and worsen mental health following TBI. Indeed, individuals with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and TBI have significantly poorer clinical outcomes than individuals with a sole diagnosis. Emotion dysregulation is a common factor leading to poor cognitive and affective outcomes following TBI. Here, we synthesize how acute postinjury molecular processes stemming from either physical or emotional trauma may adversely impact circuitry subserving emotion regulation and ultimately yield long-term system-level functional and structural changes that are common to TBI and PTSD. In the immediate aftermath of traumatic injury, glucocorticoids stimulate excess glutamatergic activity, particularly in prefrontal cortex-subcortical circuitry implicated in emotion regulation. In human neuroimaging work, assessing this same circuitry well after the acute injury, TBI and PTSD show similar impacts on prefrontal and subcortical connectivity and activation. These neural profiles indicate that emotion regulation may be a useful target for treatment and early intervention to prevent the adverse sequelae of TBI. Ultimately, the success of future TBI and PTSD early interventions depends on the fields' ability to address both the physical and emotional impact of physical injury.
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Fitzgerald JM, Webb EK, Weis CN, Huggins AA, Bennett KP, Miskovich TA, Krukowski JL, deRoon-Cassini TA, Larson CL. Hippocampal Resting-State Functional Connectivity Forecasts Individual Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Data-Driven Approach. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2022; 7:139-149. [PMID: 34478884 PMCID: PMC8825698 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating disorder, and there is no current accurate prediction of who develops it after trauma. Neurobiologically, individuals with chronic PTSD exhibit aberrant resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) between the hippocampus and other brain regions (e.g., amygdala, prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate), and these aberrations correlate with severity of illness. Previous small-scale research (n < 25) has also shown that hippocampal rsFC measured acutely after trauma is predictive of future severity using a region-of-interest-based approach. While this is a promising biomarker, to date, no study has used a data-driven approach to test whole-brain hippocampal FC patterns in forecasting the development of PTSD symptoms. METHODS A total of 98 adults at risk of PTSD were recruited from the emergency department after traumatic injury and completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (8 min) within 1 month; 6 months later, they completed the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 for assessment of PTSD symptom severity. Whole-brain rsFC values with bilateral hippocampi were extracted (using CONN) and used in a machine learning kernel ridge regression analysis (PRoNTo); a k-folds (k = 10) and 70/30 testing versus training split approach were used for cross-validation (1000 iterations to bootstrap confidence intervals for significance values). RESULTS Acute hippocampal rsFC significantly predicted Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 scores at 6 months (r = 0.30, p = .006; mean squared error = 120.58, p = .006; R2 = 0.09, p = .025). In post hoc analyses, hippocampal rsFC remained significant after controlling for demographics, PTSD symptoms at baseline, and depression, anxiety, and stress severity at 6 months (B = 0.59, SE = 0.20, p = .003). CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that functional connectivity of the hippocampus across the brain acutely after traumatic injury is associated with prospective PTSD symptom severity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elisabeth Kate Webb
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Department of Psychology, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Carissa N. Weis
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Department of Psychology, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Ashley A. Huggins
- Medical University of South Carolina, Department of Psychiatry, Charleston, SC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Terri A. deRoon-Cassini
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Christine L. Larson
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Department of Psychology, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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Lomax J, Meyrick J. Systematic Review: Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on wellbeing outcomes for adolescent or adult victim/survivors of recent rape or sexual assault. J Health Psychol 2022; 27:305-331. [PMID: 32838568 PMCID: PMC8777327 DOI: 10.1177/1359105320950799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual assault and rape are common forms of sexual violence/abuse. The psychological/health consequences represent significant and ongoing harm. It seems imperative that victim/survivors receive evidence-based support within first response settings. To assess what psychosocial interventions work for victim/survivors of a recent sexual assault. Twenty-seven electronic databases were systematically searched. Narrative data synthesis was used to read across studies. Reporting format follows PRISMA checklist. Ten studies were identifed including range of interventions. The evidence is sparse and scientifically weak, common flaws are reviewed. There is some weak evidence for the impact of video and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) based interventions, especially trauma processing. There is a gap in the evidence base on psychosocial interventions for victim/survivors of sexual assault and higher quality research is required.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jane Meyrick
- University of the West of England
Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Krinke E, Held U, Steigmiller K, Felmingham K, Kleim B. Sex hormones and cortisol during experimental trauma memory consolidation: Prospective association with intrusive memories. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2022; 13:2040818. [PMID: 35386732 PMCID: PMC8979510 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2022.2040818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Trauma- and stress-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are more common in females than in males. Sex hormones affect learning and emotional memory formation and may be associated with the development of PTSD. Most previous studies have indexed these hormones in isolation. Objectives: To investigate associations of sex hormones and cortisol during memory consolidation on the development of intrusive memories. Methods: We employed an experimental trauma film paradigm in 61 healthy women and indexed salivary testosterone, progesterone, estradiol, and cortisol on day one and day two post experimental trauma exposure and their effects on intrusion frequency, distress, and vividness. Intrusive trauma memories were indexed by means of a diary in which participants documented intrusion frequency, distress, and vividness. Results and conclusion: Participants reported an average of 5.3 intrusions over the course of seven days (SD = 4.6, range 0-26). Progesterone, and estradiol indexed on day one predicted intrusion frequency, with higher progesterone and lower estradiol predicting more intrusive memories (p-values AUC progesterone 0.01 and estradiol 0.02). There was no evidence for associations between hormone concentration indices on day two and intrusion outcomes. Further research on the roles of gonadal and adrenal hormones in trauma memory formation is needed to advance our efforts to understand their influence on PTSD development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Krinke
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Held
- Department of Biostatistics at Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Klaus Steigmiller
- Department of Biostatistics at Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kim Felmingham
- Department of Psychology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Birgit Kleim
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Psychology, University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Neuroscience Centre, ZNZ University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland
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Acceptability and effectiveness of CBT and psychologically based interventions for emergency department attenders with medical complaints: a systematic literature review. COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPIST 2022. [DOI: 10.1017/s1754470x22000472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
This systematic literature review surveyed the evidence for the acceptability and effectiveness of CBT and psychologically based interventions for emergency department (ED) attenders with physical health complaints as their primary concern, in light of over-burdened EDs and the existing evidence base for psychological interventions in other medical settings. The review protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42018087860). A systematic search of three databases (APAPsychNet, Cochrane and PubMed) was performed to identify psychological treatment studies targeting physical health problems presenting in the ED, with broad inclusion criteria to capture a coherent understanding of the current knowledge base. A total of 2606 potential studies for inclusion were identified; 45 proceeded to full review. Twenty papers met the full inclusion. Included studies covered four clinical areas: trauma/PTSD-prevention, panic attacks, non-cardiac chest-pain and miscellaneous. A narrative description of findings reflected positive outcomes across all groups, but this was not consistent across any group. Few studies measured ED attendance (20%) or satisfaction/acceptability (10%). The majority of studies (90%) were underpinned by a cognitive behavioural framework, consistent with the current evidence base as applied to the management of medical conditions. Findings suggest there is some evidence that interventions in the ED are effective and acceptable to patients, but interpretation of findings is limited by the mixed quality of designs and risk of bias.
Key learning aims
(1)
To understand the current body of evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of psychological interventions in the emergency department.
(2)
To gain a clear understanding of the models and format of the delivery of CBT and psychological interventions in an acute setting.
(3)
To identify gaps in the evidence to inform future development of CBT-based interventions to improve outcomes and clinical care.
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Prevalence and risk factors for acute stress disorder in female victims of sexual assault. Psychiatry Res 2021; 306:114240. [PMID: 34673311 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Sexual assault is one of the most traumatic events a person can experience. Despite this, information regarding the risk factors associated with the development of Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) in sexual assault victims is scarce. A follow-up prospective cohort study was designed to examine the prevalence and risk factors of ASD in women exposed to a recent sexual assault. A total of 156 women were treated at the Emergency Department of a university general hospital shortly after sexual assault. Sociodemographic, clinical and sexual assault-related variables were collected. The Acute Stress Disorder Interview was used to estimate the prevalence of ASD at three weeks post-SA. From the 156 victims, 66.6% (N = 104) met ASD diagnosis using DSM-5 criteria, whereas 59.6% (N = 93) met ASD diagnosis using DSM-IV criteria. The risk factors associated with the development of ASD were nationality, psychiatric history, peritraumatic dissociation and type of assault. In conclusion, the prevalence of ASD in female victims of recent sexual assault was high, affecting approximately two thirds of them. The recognition of the risk factors associated with ASD development, like peritraumatic dissociation or type of assault, may aid in the prompt detection of vulnerable women that require early and specific interventions shortly after trauma.
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38
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Damiano RF, Di Santi T, Beach S, Pan PM, Lucchetti AL, Smith FA, Forlenza OV, Fricchione GL, Miguel EC, Lucchetti G. Mental health interventions following COVID-19 and other coronavirus infections: a systematic review of current recommendations and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PSIQUIATRIA (SAO PAULO, BRAZIL : 1999) 2021; 43:665-678. [PMID: 33852690 PMCID: PMC8639008 DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2020-1582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To review the most common mental health strategies aimed at alleviating and/or preventing mental health problems in individuals during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other coronavirus pandemics. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of the literature assessing three databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, and PsycINFO). A meta-analysis was performed with data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). For non-RCT studies, a critical description of recommendations was performed. RESULTS From a total of 2,825 articles, 125 were included. Of those, three RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that the interventions promoted better overall mental health outcomes as compared to control groups (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.87 [95%CI 0.33-1.41], p < 0.001, I2 = 69.2%), but did not specifically improve anxiety (SMD = 0.98 [95%CI -0.17 to 2.13], p > 0.05; I2 = 36.8%). Concerning the systematic review, we found a large body of scientific literature proposing recommendations involving psychological/psychiatric interventions, self-care, education, governmental programs, and the use of technology and media. CONCLUSIONS We found a large body of expert recommendations that may help health practitioners, institutional and governmental leaders, and the general population cope with mental health issues during a pandemic or a crisis period. However, most articles had a low level of evidence, stressing the need for more studies with better design (especially RCTs) investigating potential mental health interventions during COVID-19. PROSPERO REGISTRATION CRD42020190212.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo F. Damiano
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Talita Di Santi
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Scott Beach
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Pedro M. Pan
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Alessandra L. Lucchetti
- Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
| | - Felicia A. Smith
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Orestes V. Forlenza
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gregory L. Fricchione
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Eurípedes C. Miguel
- Departamento de Psiquiatria, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Giancarlo Lucchetti
- Departamento de Medicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil
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Gilmore AK, Walsh K, Frazier P, Meredith L, Ledray L, Davis J, Acierno R, Ruggiero KJ, Kilpatrick DG, Jaffe AE, Resnick HS. Post-Sexual Assault Mental Health: A Randomized Clinical Trial of a Video-Based Intervention. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2021; 36:10614-10637. [PMID: 31709903 PMCID: PMC7232869 DOI: 10.1177/0886260519884674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The current study assessed the efficacy of a brief video intervention (Prevention of Post-Rape Stress [PPRS]) delivered in the emergency department to recent sexual assault (SA) victims. PPRS was compared to treatment as usual (TAU) and an active control condition (Pleasant Imagery and Relaxation Instruction [PIRI]). Primary outcomes were posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and perceived present control. Prior SA was examined as a moderator of treatment effects. Women (n = 233; aged 15 years and older; 59.70% identified as a racial or ethnic minority) who received a post-SA medical forensic exam participated in the study (NCT01430624). Participants were randomized to watch the PPRS video (n = 77), the PIRI video (n = 77), or receive TAU (n = 79). Participants completed measures of PTSD symptoms and perceived present control 1.5-, 3-, and 6-months post-SA. An interaction between condition and prior SA was found on PTSD symptom frequency and on perceived present control. Among women with a prior SA, women in the PPRS versus TAU condition reported less frequent PTSD symptoms 6-months post-SA. Those in the PPRS condition had lower perceived present control than those in the TAU condition among those with no prior SA 3-months post-SA. However, at 6-months post-SA, among women with a prior SA, women in the PPRS reported higher perceived present control than those in TAU. These findings partially replicate a prior study in which PPRS was found to be beneficial in mitigating the development of PTSD symptoms, but only for women with a prior SA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Linda Ledray
- SANE-SART Resource Service, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Ron Acierno
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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Kanstrup M, Rudman A, Göransson K, Andersson E, Lauri KO, Rapoport E, Sunnergård L, Bragesjö M, Andersson E, Iyadurai L, Holmes EA. Reaching people soon after a traumatic event: an exploratory observational feasibility study of recruitment in the emergency department to deliver a brief behavioral intervention via smartphone to prevent intrusive memories of trauma. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2021; 7:184. [PMID: 34620249 PMCID: PMC8499533 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-021-00916-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The current study explored how to recruit patients soon after a traumatic event, to deliver a novel intervention in a new emergency department in Sweden. This brief behavioral intervention aims to prevent intrusive memories and is delivered soon after trauma in the emergency department. In the UK, it has shown promising results. Traumatic events resulting in admission to the emergency department (e.g., road traffic accidents) may result in subsequent mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, where intrusive memories of the trauma constitute a core clinical feature. Early interventions that prevent intrusive memories after psychological trauma are lacking. Specific aims were to explore identification of eligible patients (aim 1), fitting in with emergency department staff routines to deliver the study protocol (aim 2), and using the patients’ own smartphones to deliver intervention/control task (aim 3). Two changes to the previous study were (i) extending the trauma types included (ii) a new control condition, also by smartphone. Methods This is an explorative observational study. Data was both analyzed descriptively and using the Framework method. Results We identified several possible ways to recruit patients, and establish a sense of embeddedness in the Swedish emergency department context and a positive appreciation from staff. The study protocol was tested with 8 participants. Tasks both in the intervention and control condition were readily delivered via patients’ own smartphones. Conclusion Recruitment of patients and smartphone delivery of the intervention indicates initial feasibility. Researcher presence and administration of study procedures was successfully fitted to emergency department routines and well received by staff. Further pilot work is warranted, underscoring the importance of our collaboration between nursing and psychology. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40814-021-00916-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Kanstrup
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), K8, Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Medical Unit for Medical Psychology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Ann Rudman
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), K8, Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katarina Göransson
- School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden.,Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emil Andersson
- Functional Area of Emergency Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Klara Olofsdotter Lauri
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), K8, Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emma Rapoport
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), K8, Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linda Sunnergård
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), K8, Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Bragesjö
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), K8, Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Andersson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), K8, Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Emily A Holmes
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), K8, Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Bird CM, Webb EK, Schramm AT, Torres L, Larson C, deRoon-Cassini TA. Racial Discrimination is Associated with Acute Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Predicts Future Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Severity in Trauma-Exposed Black Adults in the United States. J Trauma Stress 2021; 34:995-1004. [PMID: 33715212 PMCID: PMC9123835 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
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. The current study investigated whether (a) past racial discrimination was associated with acute posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and (b) discrimination prospectively contributed to the prediction of future PTSD symptoms. African American and/or Black patients (N = 113) were recruited from an emergency department in southeastern Wisconsin. Patients in the acute postinjury phase (i.e., 2 weeks posttrauma) completed self-report measures, with PTSD symptoms assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale at 6-month follow-up. Bivariate associations indicated past racial discrimination was significantly related to acute PTSS. A multiple regression analysis revealed that pretrauma exposure to racial discrimination significantly predicted PTSD symptoms at follow-up, even after controlling for age, gender, previous psychiatric diagnosis, social support, and lifetime trauma history. Our results suggest that experiences of racial discrimination add significant additional risk for PTSD symptom development following traumatic injury, R2 = .16, F(6, 106) = 3.25, p = .006. Broadly, these findings add to the body of empirical evidence and personal testimonies of Black individuals in White-centric societies asserting that racial discrimination affects mental health and overall well-being and further highlight the recent call for racism to be classified as a public health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire M. Bird
- Department of Psychology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - E. Kate Webb
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Andrew T. Schramm
- Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Lucas Torres
- Department of Psychology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Christine Larson
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Terri A. deRoon-Cassini
- Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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42
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Steuber ER, Seligowski AV, Roeckner AR, Reda M, Lebois LAM, van Rooij SJH, Murty VP, Ely TD, Bruce SE, House SL, Beaudoin FL, An X, Zeng D, Neylan TC, Clifford GD, Linnstaedt SD, Germine LT, Rauch SL, Lewandowski C, Sheikh S, Jones CW, Punches BE, Swor RA, McGrath ME, Hudak LA, Pascual JL, Chang AM, Pearson C, Peak DA, Domeier RM, O'Neil BJ, Rathlev NK, Sanchez LD, Pietrzak RH, Joormann J, Barch DM, Pizzagalli DA, Elliott JM, Kessler RC, Koenen KC, McLean SA, Ressler KJ, Jovanovic T, Harnett NG, Stevens JS. Thalamic volume and fear extinction interact to predict acute posttraumatic stress severity. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 141:325-332. [PMID: 34304036 PMCID: PMC8513112 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with lower gray matter volume (GMV) in brain regions critical for extinction of learned threat. However, relationships among volume, extinction learning, and PTSD symptom development remain unclear. We investigated subcortical brain volumes in regions supporting extinction learning and fear-potentiated startle (FPS) to understand brain-behavior interactions that may impact PTSD symptom development in recently traumatized individuals. Participants (N = 99) completed magnetic resonance imaging and threat conditioning two weeks following trauma exposure as part of a multisite observational study to understand the neuropsychiatric effects of trauma (AURORA Study). Participants completed self-assessments of PTSD (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5; PCL-5), dissociation, and depression symptoms two- and eight-weeks post-trauma. We completed multiple regressions to investigate relationships between FPS during late extinction, GMV, and PTSD symptom development. The interaction between thalamic GMV and FPS during late extinction at two weeks post-trauma predicted PCL-5 scores eight weeks (t (75) = 2.49, β = 0.28, p = 0.015) post-trauma. Higher FPS predicted higher PCL-5 scores in the setting of increased thalamic GMV. Meanwhile, lower FPS also predicted higher PCL-5 scores in the setting of decreased thalamic GMV. Thalamic GMV and FPS interactions also predicted posttraumatic dissociative and depressive symptoms. Amygdala and hippocampus GMV by FPS interactions were not associated with posttraumatic symptom development. Taken together, thalamic GMV and FPS during late extinction interact to contribute to adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric outcomes. Multimodal assessments soon after trauma have the potential to distinguish key phenotypes vulnerable to posttraumatic neuropsychiatric outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Antonia V Seligowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Alyssa R Roeckner
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mariam Reda
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Lauren A M Lebois
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Vishnu P Murty
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Timothy D Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Steven E Bruce
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri - St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Stacey L House
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Francesca L Beaudoin
- Department of Emergency Medicine & Health Services, Policy, and Practice, The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Xinming An
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Trauma Recovery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Donglin Zeng
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Thomas C Neylan
- San Francisco VA Healthcare System and Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gari D Clifford
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University School of Medicine and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sarah D Linnstaedt
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Trauma Recovery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Laura T Germine
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA; The Many Brains Project, Acton, MA, USA
| | - Scott L Rauch
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | | | - Sophia Sheikh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine -Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Christopher W Jones
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Brittany E Punches
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine & University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Robert A Swor
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester Hills, MI, USA
| | - Meghan E McGrath
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lauren A Hudak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jose L Pascual
- Department of Surgery and Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Anna M Chang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Claire Pearson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Ascension St. John Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - David A Peak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert M Domeier
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Brian J O'Neil
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Niels K Rathlev
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate, Springfield, MA, USA
| | - Leon D Sanchez
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert H Pietrzak
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA & Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jutta Joormann
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Deanna M Barch
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, College of Arts & Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - James M Elliott
- The Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia; Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ronald C Kessler
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karestan C Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuel A McLean
- Department of Anesthesiology, Institute of Trauma Recovery, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Nathaniel G Harnett
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Cakmak AS, Alday EAP, Da Poian G, Rad AB, Metzler TJ, Neylan TC, House SL, Beaudoin FL, An X, Stevens JS, Zeng D, Linnstaedt SD, Jovanovic T, Germine LT, Bollen KA, Rauch SL, Lewandowski CA, Hendry PL, Sheikh S, Storrow AB, Musey PI, Haran JP, Jones CW, Punches BE, Swor RA, Gentile NT, McGrath ME, Seamon MJ, Mohiuddin K, Chang AM, Pearson C, Domeier RM, Bruce SE, O'Neil BJ, Rathlev NK, Sanchez LD, Pietrzak RH, Joormann J, Barch DM, Pizzagalli DA, Harte SE, Elliott JM, Kessler RC, Koenen KC, Ressler KJ, Mclean SA, Li Q, Clifford GD. Classification and Prediction of Post-Trauma Outcomes Related to PTSD Using Circadian Rhythm Changes Measured via Wrist-Worn Research Watch in a Large Longitudinal Cohort. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform 2021; 25:2866-2876. [PMID: 33481725 PMCID: PMC8395207 DOI: 10.1109/jbhi.2021.3053909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition resulting from threatening or horrifying events. We hypothesized that circadian rhythm changes, measured by a wrist-worn research watch are predictive of post-trauma outcomes. APPROACH 1618 post-trauma patients were enrolled after admission to emergency departments (ED). Three standardized questionnaires were administered at week eight to measure post-trauma outcomes related to PTSD, sleep disturbance, and pain interference with daily life. Pulse activity and movement data were captured from a research watch for eight weeks. Standard and novel movement and cardiovascular metrics that reflect circadian rhythms were derived using this data. These features were used to train different classifiers to predict the three outcomes derived from week-eight surveys. Clinical surveys administered at ED were also used as features in the baseline models. RESULTS The highest cross-validated performance of research watch-based features was achieved for classifying participants with pain interference by a logistic regression model, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.70. The ED survey-based model achieved an AUC of 0.77, and the fusion of research watch and ED survey metrics improved the AUC to 0.79. SIGNIFICANCE This work represents the first attempt to predict and classify post-trauma symptoms from passive wearable data using machine learning approaches that leverage the circadian desynchrony in a potential PTSD population.
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Integration of peripheral transcriptomics, genomics, and interactomics following trauma identifies causal genes for symptoms of post-traumatic stress and major depression. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:3077-3092. [PMID: 33963278 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01084-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating syndrome with substantial morbidity and mortality that occurs in the aftermath of trauma. Symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) are also a frequent consequence of trauma exposure. Identifying novel risk markers in the immediate aftermath of trauma is a critical step for the identification of novel biological targets to understand mechanisms of pathophysiology and prevention, as well as the determination of patients most at risk who may benefit from immediate intervention. Our study utilizes a novel approach to computationally integrate blood-based transcriptomics, genomics, and interactomics to understand the development of risk vs. resilience in the months following trauma exposure. In a two-site longitudinal, observational prospective study, we assessed over 10,000 individuals and enrolled >700 subjects in the immediate aftermath of trauma (average 5.3 h post-trauma (range 0.5-12 h)) in the Grady Memorial Hospital (Atlanta) and Jackson Memorial Hospital (Miami) emergency departments. RNA expression data and 6-month follow-up data were available for 366 individuals, while genotype, transcriptome, and phenotype data were available for 297 patients. To maximize our power and understanding of genes and pathways that predict risk vs. resilience, we utilized a set-cover approach to capture fluctuations of gene expression of PTSD or depression-converting patients and non-converting trauma-exposed controls to find representative sets of disease-relevant dysregulated genes. We annotated such genes with their corresponding expression quantitative trait loci and applied a variant of a current flow algorithm to identify genes that potentially were causal for the observed dysregulation of disease genes involved in the development of depression and PTSD symptoms after trauma exposure. We obtained a final list of 11 driver causal genes related to MDD symptoms, 13 genes for PTSD symptoms, and 22 genes in PTSD and/or MDD. We observed that these individual or combined disorders shared ESR1, RUNX1, PPARA, and WWOX as driver causal genes, while other genes appeared to be causal driver in the PTSD only or MDD only cases. A number of these identified causal pathways have been previously implicated in the biology or genetics of PTSD and MDD, as well as in preclinical models of amygdala function and fear regulation. Our work provides a promising set of initial pathways that may underlie causal mechanisms in the development of PTSD or MDD in the aftermath of trauma.
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Rauch SAM, Simon NM, Rothbaum BO. Rising Tide: Responding to the Mental Health Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. FOCUS (AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC PUBLISHING) 2021; 19:243-246. [PMID: 34690589 PMCID: PMC8475908 DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.19204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
(Reprinted with permission from Depress Anxiety. 2020;37:505-509).
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Joseph NM, Benedick A, Flanagan CD, Breslin MA, Vallier HA. Risk Factors for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Acute Trauma Patients. J Orthop Trauma 2021; 35:e209-e215. [PMID: 33724967 DOI: 10.1097/bot.0000000000001990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after traumatic injury. SETTING Single urban Level I trauma center. DESIGN Prospective. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS Three hundred men (66%) and 152 women treated for traumatic injuries were administered the PTSD checklist for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (PCL-5) survey during their first post-hospital visit over a 15-month period. INTERVENTION Screening for PTSD in trauma patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT The prevalence of disease and risk factors for the development of PTSD based on demographic, medical, injury, and treatment variables. RESULTS One hundred three patients screened positive for PTSD (26%) after a mean of 86 days after injury. Age less than 45 years was an independent risk factor for the development of PTSD [odds ratio (OR) 2.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.40-4.99)]. Mechanisms of injury associated with the development of PTSD included pedestrians struck by motor vehicles [OR 7.35, 95% CI (1.58-34.19)], motorcycle/all terrain vehicle crash [OR 3.17, 95% CI (1.04-9.65)], and victims of crime [OR 3.49, 95% CI (0.99-9.20)]. Patients sustaining high-energy mechanism injuries and those who were victims of crime scored higher on the PCL-5 [OR 2.39, 95% CI (1.35-4.22); OR 4.50, 95% CI (2.52-8.05), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS One quarter of trauma patients screened positive for PTSD at 3 months after their injury. A mechanism of injury is a risk factor for PTSD, and younger adults, victims of crime, and pedestrians struck by motor vehicles are at higher risk. These findings offer the potential to more effectively target and refer vulnerable patient populations to appropriate treatment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a compete description of levels of evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah M Joseph
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, affiliated with the Case Western Reserve University
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Bragesjö M, Arnberg FK, Andersson E. Prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder: Lessons learned from a terminated RCT of prolonged exposure. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251898. [PMID: 34029328 PMCID: PMC8143412 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The main purpose of the current trial was to test if a brief trauma-focused cognitive-behaviour therapy protocol (prolonged exposure; PE) provided within 72 h after a traumatic event could be effective in decreasing the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), thus replicating and extending the findings from an earlier trial. After a pilot study (N = 10), which indicated feasible and deliverable study procedures and interventions, we launched an RCT with a target sample size of 352 participants randomised to either three sessions of PE or non-directive support. Due to an unforeseen major reorganisation at the hospital, the RCT was discontinued after 32 included participants. In this paper, we highlight obstacles and lessons learned from our feasibility work that are relevant for preventive psychological interventions for PTSD in emergency settings. One important finding was the high degree of attrition, and only 75% and 34%, respectively, came back for the 2-month and 6-month assessments. There were also difficulties in reaching eligible patients immediately after the event. Based on our experiences, we envisage that alternative models of implementation might overcome these obstacles, for example, with remote delivery of both assessments and interventions via the internet or smartphones combined with multiple recruitment procedures. Lessons learned from this terminated RCT are discussed in depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bragesjö
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Filip K Arnberg
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry, National Centre for Disaster Psychiatry, Uppsala, Sweden
- Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Andersson
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Kanstrup M, Singh L, Göransson KE, Gamble B, Taylor RS, Iyadurai L, Moulds ML, Holmes EA. A simple cognitive task intervention to prevent intrusive memories after trauma in patients in the Emergency Department: A randomized controlled trial terminated due to COVID-19. BMC Res Notes 2021; 14:176. [PMID: 33971951 PMCID: PMC8107806 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-021-05572-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This randomised controlled trial (RCT) aimed to investigate the effects of a simple cognitive task intervention on intrusive memories ("flashbacks") and associated symptoms following a traumatic event. Patients presenting to a Swedish emergency department (ED) soon after a traumatic event were randomly allocated (1:1) to the simple cognitive task intervention (memory cue + mental rotation instructions + computer game "Tetris" for at least 20 min) or control (podcast, similar time). We planned follow-ups at one-week, 1-month, and where possible, 3- and 6-months post-trauma. Anticipated enrolment was N = 148. RESULTS The RCT was terminated prematurely after recruiting N = 16 participants. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented recruitment/testing in the ED because: (i) the study required face-to-face contact between participants, psychology researchers, ED staff, and patients, incurring risk of virus transmission; (ii) the host ED site received COVID-19 patients; and (iii) reduced flow of patients otherwise presenting to the ED in non-pandemic conditions (e.g. after trauma). We report on delivery of study procedures, recruitment, treatment adherence, outcome completion (primary outcome: number of intrusive memories during week 5), attrition, and limitations. The information presented and limitations may enable our group and others to learn from this terminated study. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04185155 (04-12-2019).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Kanstrup
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Functional Area Medical Psychology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Laura Singh
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, 751 42, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Katarina E Göransson
- Emergency and Reparative Medicine Theme, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Beau Gamble
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, 751 42, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rod S Taylor
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit & Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, Institute of Health and Well Being, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Michelle L Moulds
- School of Psychology, The University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, Australia
| | - Emily A Holmes
- Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Box 1225, 751 42, Uppsala, Sweden
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Zatzick D, Jurkovich G, Heagerty P, Russo J, Darnell D, Parker L, Roberts MK, Moodliar R, Engstrom A, Wang J, Bulger E, Whiteside L, Nehra D, Palinkas LA, Moloney K, Maier R. Stepped Collaborative Care Targeting Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Comorbidity for US Trauma Care Systems: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Surg 2021; 156:430-474. [PMID: 33688908 DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2021.0131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Importance To date, few multisite investigations have evaluated early interventions for injured patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Objective To simultaneously assess the effectiveness and implementation of a brief stepped collaborative care intervention targeting PTSD and comorbidity. Design, Setting, and Participants A stepped-wedge cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted at 25 US level I trauma centers. Participants included hospitalized survivors of physical injury who underwent a 2-step evaluation for PTSD symptoms. Patients reporting high levels of distress on the PTSD Checklist (PCL-C) were randomized (N = 635) per the stepped-wedge protocol to enhanced usual care control (n = 370) or intervention (n = 265) conditions. The study was conducted from January 4, 2016, through November 2018. Data analysis was performed from November 4, 2019, to December 8, 2020. Interventions The Trauma Survivors Outcomes and Support collaborative care intervention included proactive injury case management that assisted patients transitioning from hospital inpatient to outpatient and community settings. The intervention also integrated evidence-based pharmacotherapy and psychotherapeutic elements targeting PTSD symptoms and comorbidity. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary study outcome was PTSD symptoms assessed with the PCL-C at baseline in the surgical ward and at 3, 6, and 12 months postinjury. Secondary outcomes included depressive symptoms, alcohol use, and physical function. Subgroup analyses examined the effect of baseline risk factors for enduring PTSD and quality of protocol implementation on study outcomes. Primary statistical analyses were conducted using the intent-to-treat sample. Results A total of 327 men (51.5%) were included in analysis; mean (SD) age was 39.0 (14.2) years. The investigation attained follow-up of 75% to 80% of the participants at 3 to 12 months. The intervention lasted a mean (SD) of 122 (132) minutes. Mixed model regression analyses revealed statistically significant changes in PCL-C scores for intervention patients compared with control patients at 6 months (difference, -2.57; 95% CI, -5.12 to -0.03; effect size, 0.18; P < .05) but not 12 months (difference, -1.27; 95% CI, -4.26 to 1.73; effect size, 0.08; P = .35). Subgroup analyses revealed larger PTSD treatment effects for patients with 3 or more baseline risk factors for enduring PTSD and for patients, including firearm injury survivors, treated at trauma centers with good or excellent protocol implementation. Intervention effects for secondary outcomes did not attain statistical significance. Conclusions and Relevance A brief stepped collaborative care intervention was associated with significant 6-month but not 12-month PTSD symptom reductions. Greater baseline PTSD risk and good or excellent trauma center protocol implementation were associated with larger PTSD treatment effects. Orchestrated efforts targeting policy and funding should systematically incorporate the study findings into national trauma center requirements and verification criteria. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02655354.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Zatzick
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.,Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
| | - Gregory Jurkovich
- Department of Surgery, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California
| | - Patrick Heagerty
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle
| | - Joan Russo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
| | - Doyanne Darnell
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
| | - Lea Parker
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.,Department of Psychology, Drexel University College of Arts and Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Michelle K Roberts
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
| | - Rddhi Moodliar
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Allison Engstrom
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
| | - Jin Wang
- Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
| | - Eileen Bulger
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
| | - Lauren Whiteside
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
| | - Deepika Nehra
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
| | - Lawrence A Palinkas
- Department of Children, Youth and Families, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Los Angeles, California
| | - Kathleen Moloney
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
| | - Ronald Maier
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle
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50
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Powers MB, Pogue JR, Curcio NE, Patel S, Wierzchowski A, Thomas EV, Warren AM, Adams M, Turner E, Carl E, Froehlich-Grobe K, Sikka S, Foreman M, Leonard K, Douglas M, Bennett M, Driver S. Prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD among spinal cord injury survivors: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2021; 22:100763. [PMID: 34013091 PMCID: PMC8113811 DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2021.100763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates 294,000 people in the US live with a spinal cord injury (SCI), with approximately 17,810 new cases each year. Although the physical outcomes associated with SCI have been widely studied, the psychological consequences of sustaining a SCI remain largely unexplored. Scant research has focused on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in this population, despite prevalence estimates suggesting that up to 60% of individuals with SCI experience PTSD post-injury, compared to only 7% of the general US population. Fortunately, prolonged exposure therapy (PE) is a well-researched and highly effective treatment for PTSD. However, no trauma focused exposure-based therapy for PTSD (e.g. PE) has not yet been tested in a SCI population. Thus, we aim to conduct the first test of an evidence-based intervention for PTSD among patients with SCI. Adults with SCI and PTSD (N = 60) will be randomly assigned to either: (1) 12-sessions of PE (2-3 sessions per week) or (2) a treatment as usual (TAU) control group who will receive the standard inpatient rehabilitation care for SCI patients. Primary outcomes will be assessed at 0, 6, 10, and 32 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark B Powers
- Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Jamie R Pogue
- Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | | | - Sarita Patel
- Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | | | | | | | - Maris Adams
- Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Emma Turner
- Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Emily Carl
- The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | | | - Seema Sikka
- Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation, Baylor Scott & White Health, Dallas, TX, United States
| | | | - Kiara Leonard
- Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Megan Douglas
- Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation, Baylor Scott & White Health, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Monica Bennett
- Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Simon Driver
- Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation, Baylor Scott & White Health, Dallas, TX, United States
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