Resilience in the aftermath of trauma: Classes of adjustment in at-risk youth.

Objective: Youth who have been exposed to potentially traumatic events are at risk of developing chronic and severe adjustment problems. However, some youth exposed to potentially traumatic events exhibit better-than-expected adaptation. Person-centered analyses, based on multiple criteria for adaptive behavior and adversity, are well-suited to empirically identifying different patterns of adaptation among high-risk youth.

HIV Diagnosis in the Context of Stable Relationships: A Qualitative Study With Women Living in Portugal.

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore the acceptance of HIV diagnosis of women in stable relationships. Based on eight semistructured interviews with cisgender Portuguese women, thematic analysis identified four interrelated themes that illustrated the emotional and psychosocial dynamics involved in this journey. Following an HIV diagnosis, participants grappled with complex emotions, societal perceptions, and the internalization of stigma.

Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and dissociation as serial mediators of the relationship between cumulative victimization and adjustment problems among poly-victimized at-risk youth.

Introduction: Poly-victimization (PV) has a greater adverse impact on adolescents' lives than any single victimization type, even when repeatedly experienced. Adolescents who experience PV tend to present with an array of adjustment problems, and research has begun to identify mechanisms linking PV to adjustment problems. Both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissociation are linked to PV and adjustment problems; however, it is unclear how these variables play a role in the pathways from PV to adjustment problems.

The mediating role of posttraumatic stress symptoms on somatization in adolescents: A two-wave longitudinal study.

Objective: Trauma as well as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with increased rates of later somatization symptoms. Some evidence has proposed that posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) can mediate this relationship. However, most data come from adult samples.

The psychometric properties of the adolescent dissociative experiences scale (A-DES) in a sample of Portuguese at-risk adolescents.

Dissociation is a process that often occurs as a sequela of psychological trauma, and it is interrelated with psychological and behavioral problems. In the at-risk adolescent population, dissociation is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. Having reliable measures to assess this phenomenon can help in identifying adolescents at-risk and improve treatment outcomes.

Alternative Models of DSM-5 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Portuguese Adolescents Exposed to Trauma and Childhood Adversity.

The factor structure of DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been extensively debated, with evidence supporting the recently proposed seven-factor hybrid model. However, few studies examining PTSD symptom structure have assessed the implications of these proposed models on diagnostic criteria and PTSD prevalence. In the present study, we examined seven alternative DSM-5 PTSD models within a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), using the Child PTSD Symptom Scale-Self-Report for DSM-5 (CPSS-5).

What is told when the story is retold? Consistency of victimization reports in psychiatric patients.

The use of retrospective self-reports is a major methodological concern when ascertaining the occurrence of victimization experiences, with additional concerns when assessing psychiatric patients. The test for consistency can overcome some of these concerns, increasing the confidence in the information reported. Our aim was twofold: (1) to know the consistency of victimization reports; and (2) to test the role of changes on emotional distress in predicting report discrepancies, in a sample of 34 adult psychiatric patients.

The Strongest Correlates of PTSD for Firefighters: Number, Recency, Frequency, or Perceived Threat of Traumatic Events?

Firefighters experience a wide range of traumatic events while on duty and are at risk to develop psychopathology and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to cognitive models, the person's interpretation of the traumatic event is responsible for the development of PTSD rather than the traumatic event itself. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the contribution of perceived threat to explain PTSD symptoms in Portuguese firefighters, after adjusting for potential confounding factors.

Childhood Adversity Among Institutionalized Male Juvenile Offenders and Other High-Risk Groups Without Offense Records in Portugal.

The literature has shown that delinquent adolescents report high rates of childhood adversity and family dysfunction. However, it is important to know both the degree of adversity among delinquent adolescents in comparison with other high-risk samples and the contribution of each single form of adversity to this comparison. The purpose of this study was to evaluate childhood adversity, psychopathology, and risk behaviors among 4 high-risk groups, including incarcerated delinquent youths.

Psychopathology among youths who were victims of documented childhood maltreatment.

Background: There is an established relationship between childhood maltreatment and later psychopathology, but most studies have used self-reports and only consider a small number of experiences. The main aim of this study was to examine predictors of psychopathology by comparing two sources (official records vs. self-reports) of ten different childhood adversities among youths who were identified by Child Protective Services (CPS).

Symptoms of disease and psychological adaptation in Brazilian scleroderma patients.

Objective: To characterize the prevalence and impact of symptoms of scleroderma in Brazilian patients and to describe their satisfaction with medical care and psychological symptoms.

Methods: One-hundred and twenty eight Brazilian scleroderma patients participated in an online survey by filling out a Portuguese version of the Canadian Scleroderma Patient Survey of Health Concerns and Research Priorities. The mean age of participants was 38 years old (SD = 12.

The psychological impact of motor vehicle accidents on emergency service workers.

Emergency service workers continuously face situations where they are in charge of the lives of others, and this can be a risk factor for their mental health. This study aims to determine the psychological impact of exposure to current death and physical injury events in the context of motor vehicle accidents among emergency personnel and which variables better predict posttraumatic stress disorder. Participants were National Institute of Medical Emergency workers (nurses and medical doctors; n= 59) in the north of Portugal.