Traumatic Stress Disorders

The symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have long been recognized in medicine, history, literature, and philosophy. This chapter provides an introduction and overview to this handbook, focusing on the historical context that underlies current issues within the trauma literature. This handbook contains eight parts, focusing on classification and phenomenology; epidemiology and special populations; contributions from theory, assessment, prevention, and early intervention; treatment; and dissemination/implementation and ending with a chapter highlighting future directions. The historical underpinnings of each area are delineated, with attention to their linkage with current research. The hope for this revised edition of the Handbook of Traumatic Stress Disorders is to facilitate linkages among cross-cutting areas of study and clinical application, while providing concise, up-to-date reviews of current knowledge.

Pain syndrome in patients with gunshot wounds of the limbs and post-traumatic stress disorders

During the fighting in Eastern Ukraine, the number of patients with gunshot wounds to the extremities is about 64 %. Treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in these patients fails in 82.1 % of cases. The reason for these results is the high incidence of chronic pain syndrome and treatment-resistance post-traumatic stress disorder. In 30–40 % of cases, treatment of pain syndrome in patients with gunshot wounds and post-traumatic stress disorders does not lead to a positive effect. In the future, reconstructive surgery must be performed in 35–40 % of cases.

Long term post-traumatic stress disorders among the earthquake affected people of Sindhupalchwok, Nepal

Background: People who are suffering from PTSD have disturbing feelings and thoughts which is related to their experience even after a long time of such traumatic events happened. This study highlight the characteristics and prevalence of PTSD among the earthquake survivors.Methods: Cross sectional study was carried out using standard PCL-5 PTSD questionnaire. Interview was taken among 376 survivors of earthquake after 4 years of earthquake in Sindhupalchok. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression were used to describe data and test association.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 39.47±16.18 years. Almost 2/5th of the respondents were either buried, injured or physically or mentally disabled during earthquake. Majority of the survivors had loss their loved one while most of them loss their property. Among the respondents who were buried 28.6% had develop PTSD which was 22.2% among physical or mental disable during earthquake. PTSD showed significant association with age, loss of known person and loss of property however didn’t show with gender, caste, experience of earthquake and so on. The prevalence of PTSD was 71 (21.5%) out of 331 respondents. Female (63.4%) were more prone to PTSD than male (36.6%).Conclusions: PTSD is prevalent among 21.5% of survivors even after 4 years of earthquake which showed an urgent need to address PTSD among the respondents and immediate intervention to prevent and treat such problems in case of future disasters.

Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorders and associated factors one month after the outbreak of the COVID-19 among the public in southwestern China: a cross-sectional study

Background The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has rapidly spread across the whole world and brought strong psychological impact. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) in the general people of southwestern China and associated factors 1 month after the outbreak of the COVID-19. Methods This study was started on 4–10 Feb 2020 based on online survey. The present work was carried out in the provinces of southeastern China, including Sichuan Province, Guizhou Province, Yunnan Province, and Chongqing City.1593 respondents aged 18 years and above administered to this study. Data on whether they have experienced confirmed or suspected COVID-19 of themselves/family members/acquaintances were also collected, and based on ‘yes’ answers, the number of affected individuals (via COVID-19) were categorized into four exposure levels i.e., non-affected, less, moderately, or significantly affected. The civilian version of the PTSD checklist and the self-reported information about COVID-19 were used. Results The prevalence of PTSD was approximately 25.2%(n = 401/1593). The chances of developing PTSD were 6.053(OR = 6.053, 95% CI 1.394 to 26.280) or 3.673(OR = 3.673, 95% CI 1.738 to 7.765) times higher among respondents who had been significantly and moderately affected than those who had not been affected, accordingly. Male (OR = 1.484, 95% CI 1.147 to 1.920),younger age individuals (40 ~ 49 age group/<30 age group, OR = 0.395, 95% CI 0.258 to 0.606) and health care workers (OR = 1.788, 95% CI 1.155 to 2.277) were at higher risk of developing PTSD. Conclusion Our findings highlight that a positive correlation between the pandemic and PTSD. It is urgent to establish a screening and prevention systems for the population who are significantly exposed to COVID-19,and provide different psychological intervention strategies for different groups.

Police Officers’ Ability in Recognizing Relevant Mental Health Conditions

The recognition of certain mental health conditions is important as this requires police officers to communicate and behave in an adjusted manner with affected individuals. The objective of the present study was to test police officers’ knowledge about mental health symptoms as a component of their mental health literacy (MHL) and to examine if police officers’ perceived knowledge corresponds with their actual knowledge. A questionnaire was used to assess for MHL representing mental health conditions which occur frequently in police requests (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorders, and emotionally unstable personality disorder). Furthermore, the questionnaire assessed the frequency of police requests, the officers’ perceived knowledge regarding mental disorders and their sense of feeling sufficiently trained to deal with these kinds of requests. Eighty-two police officers participated in the study. Police officers’ actual knowledge about mental health conditions did not correspond with their perceived knowledge. Participants revealed a moderately high level of overall knowledge which differed with regard to symptoms of each of the five mental health conditions. The mental status of a paranoid schizophrenia was best identified by the police officers and the majority correctly allocated the symptoms. Post-traumatic stress disorders and manic episodes were only identified by a minority of police offers. Police training geared to prepare for requests involving individuals with mental disorders should expand this limited knowledge transfer and focus on a broader variety of mental health conditions that police officers frequently encounter in requests.

Litigation on Accommodating Teachers With Disabilities

Qualified employees with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The demanding nature of the teaching profession presents a particularly challenging context for accommodations; therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine litigation on accommodating teachers with disabilities. Authors searched Lexis+ to identify case law on accommodations claims by teachers with disabilities. Results indicated plaintiffs were primarily female. Depression represented the most common disability, followed by respiratory issues, and post-traumatic stress disorders. Accommodation claims were adjudicated under the broad categories of failure to meet the essential functions of the position, failure to engage in the interactive process, and undue hardship. Implications for research and practice are also discussed.

PECULIARITIES OF THE COURSE OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDERS, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF ANESTHESIOLOGICAL PROVISION, DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGICAL INTERVENTIONS AFTER FIREARMS WOUNDS OF THE LIMBS

In combatants who have received firearms wounds during hostilities in the East of Ukraine, treatment of post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) in 82.1% does not have a positive result. The peculiarities of its course are not studied, depending on the type of anesthesia during the implementation of reconstructive surgical interventions. In the long run, after such surgical interventions, the intensity of pain in the postoperative period may cause deepening of the PTSD and the development of its resistance to the intended treatment.