Detecting Negative Response Bias Within the Trauma Symptom Inventory–2 (TSI-2): a Review of the Literature

This systematic review was performed to summarize existing research on the symptom validity scales within the Trauma Symptom Inventory–Second Edition (TSI-2), a relatively new self-report measure designed to assess the psychological sequelae of trauma. The TSI-2 has built-in symptom validity scales to monitor response bias and alert the assessor of non-credible symptom profiles. The Atypical Response scale (ATR) was designed to identify symptom exaggeration or fabrication. Proposed cutoffs on the ATR vary from ≥ 7 to ≥ 15, depending on the assessment context. The limited evidence available suggests that ATR has the potential to serve as measure of symptom validity, although its classification accuracy is generally inferior compared to well-established scales. While the ATR seems sufficiently sensitive to symptom over-reporting, significant concerns about its specificity persist. Therefore, it is proposed that the TSI-2 should not be used in isolation to determine the validity of the symptom presentation. More research is needed for development of evidence-based guidelines about the interpretation of ATR scores.

Development of the Psychological Maltreatment Inventory

This article introduces the development and implementation of the Psychological Maltreatment Inventory (PMI) assessment with child respondents receiving services because of an open child abuse and/or neglect case in the Midwest (N = 166). Sixteen items were selected based on the literature, subject matter expert refinement, and readability assessments. Results indicate the PMI has high reliability (α = .91). There was no evidence the PMI total score was influenced by demographic characteristics. A positive relationship was discovered between PMI scores and general trauma symptom scores on the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children Screening Form (TSCC-SF; r = .78, p = .01). Evidence from this study demonstrates the need to refine the PMI for continued use with children. Implications for future research include identification of psychological maltreatment in isolation, further testing and refinement of the PMI, and exploring the potential relationship between psychological maltreatment and suicidal ideation.

Intimate Partner Violence and OT: A Systematic Review

Date Presented 04/13/21 This mixed-methods systematic review explored the effectiveness of OT with adults who experienced intimate partner violence. Of 61 studies screened, 36 were removed, and 20 were further excluded with inclusion criteria. Five studies showed significant skill improvement in individuals who received OT interventions using a combination of individual and group sessions focused on instrumental activities of daily living, trauma symptom reduction, life skills, and mother–child relationships. Primary Author and Speaker: Heather Javaherian-Dysinger Additional Authors and Speakers: Shannon L. Scott Contributing Authors: Michelle Bradshaw

The relationship between psychosocial trauma type and conversion (functional neurological) disorder symptoms: a cross-sectional study

Objective: Psychosocial trauma was associated with developing conversion disorder (also known as functional neurological disorder) before Freud, though why a particular symptom should arise is unknown. We aimed to determine if there was a relationship between trauma type and symptom. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients attending Australia’s first functional neurology clinic, including referral, clinic letters and a clinic questionnaire. Results: There were 106 females, 43 males and five transgender patients. Sensory (51%), motor (47%) and seizures (39%) were the commonest functional symptoms. Most patients (92%) reported stressors associated with symptom onset. Multiple trauma/symptom type associations were found: patients with in-law problems experienced more cognitive symptoms ( p = .036), for example, while expressive speech problems more commonly followed relationship difficulties ( p = .021). Conclusion: Associations were found between type of traumatic events and type of symptoms in conversion disorder. This will require verification in a larger sample.

Comparison of Trauma Symptoms Among Nonpartner Sexual Violence Victims and Nonvictims in Urban Haiti’s Cité Soleil Neighborhood

Women in resource-constrained, postdisaster, urban enclaves, such as Haiti’s Cité Soleil, are at risk for nonpartner sexual violence (NPSV) by multiple perpetrators, and subsequently, psychological trauma and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS. These biopsychosocial risks suggest that NPSV victims may benefit from an adapted evidence-based intervention for sexually transmitted infection (EBI-STI) that includes a trauma component. Yet there is a dearth of knowledge on trauma symptoms experienced by victims in Haiti. We administered a Haitian Kreyòl version of Trauma Symptom Checklist (TSC-40), including its subscales (depression, dissociation, anxiety, sexual problems, sleep disturbance, sexual abuse trauma) to women in Cité Soleil, comparing victims’ scores ( n = 54) with those of nonvictims ( n = 179). After controlling for child sexual abuse, arrest, transactional sex, and sociodemographics, being a victim was associated with higher scores on the full TSC-40, and subscales of anxiety and sexual abuse trauma index. These increased scores of victims underscore the need to incorporate trauma in adaptation of EBI-STI for Haitian NPSV victims like our sample.

Exploring relations between resilience, trauma and depression in children

Defining psychological resilience is a challenge for researchers and mental health professionals. More recent understandings of resilience define it as the capacity of a dynamic system to successfully adapt to disruptive factors that threaten the sustainability or development of that system. The present study aimed to examine the relationships between psychological trauma, depression and certain factors of resilience in a clinical sample of children (N = 103). To test the hypotheses, the following measuring instruments were used: the Trauma Symptom Checklist (TSCC), Beck Youth Inventories - Second Edition, Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-28), as well as assessment of psychotraumatization. The results were not quite consistent with previous studies of resilience, so that the hypothesis that abused, non-traumatised children would have significantly higher scores on the resilience measure than abused children was not confirmed. The results do suggest that abuse is more likely to occur among children whose caregivers do not provide care for their physical and psychological needs. It has also been confirmed that caregivers’ neglect of psychological needs is related to more significant negative psychological outcomes than caregivers’ neglect of physical needs. Additionally, the study found a greater negative correlation between resilience and depression in traumatised children than in non-traumatised children.

Trauma symptoms contribute to daily experiential avoidance: Does partner support mitigate risk?

Objective: The present study examined the protective role of partner support in reducing daily experiential avoidance (EA) associated with trauma symptoms in a sample of 154 couples during pregnancy. Background: Although psychological distress during pregnancy may hinder the developing bond between parents and infants after birth, high quality intimate partner support has the potential to enhance psychological wellbeing during pregnancy, particularly in the context of trauma. Specifically, partner support might mitigate the impact of trauma symptoms on maladaptive coping strategies such as EA by enabling individuals to safely encounter their distress. Method: Participants completed a semi-structured clinical interview of support and a PTSD symptom inventory, followed by home surveys of EA over 14 days. We examined growth trajectories of EA over 14 days using latent trajectory modeling within a dyadic framework. Results: Trauma symptom severity was associated with higher levels of EA across the 2 weeks; however, among women, the impact of trauma symptoms on EA was no longer significant when support from a partner was above average quality or higher. Findings also revealed partner effects; to the extent that women reported higher levels of trauma symptoms, their partners had higher levels of EA. Conclusion: Findings highlight the protective role of high quality support from intimate partners and suggest that trauma-related interventions targeting partner support processes, especially those implemented during pregnancy, might enhance recovery and prevent further distress and dysfunction among pregnant women experiencing trauma symptoms.