Research on posttraumatic stress disorder: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and assessment.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent disorder in both clinical and community populations. This article reviews current knowledge about PTSD in order to assist clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of reactions to traumatic life events. First, research findings are presented, followed by guidelines for the assessment of trauma and PTSD.

Downregulation of BDNF mRNA in the hippocampal dentate gyrus after re-exposure to cues previously associated with footshock.

This study examined the effects of footshock stress and re-exposure to cues previously associated with footshock on expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA in the hippocampus of male rats. Exposure to twenty 0.5-s 0.

Design of Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study no. 420: group treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant problem for a large number of veterans who receive treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health-care system. VA Cooperative Study 420 is a randomized clinical trial of group psychotherapy for treating PTSD among veterans who sought VA care. Participants at ten sites were randomly assigned to receive one of the two treatments: active treatment that embedded exposure therapy in a group context or comparison treatment that avoided trauma focus and instead addressed current interpersonal problems.

Impact of combat and sexual harassment on the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder among men and women peacekeepers in Somalia.

The impact of combat and sexual harassment on the severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is compared for 1,307 men and 197 women peacekeepers who served in the same military units. A theoretical model was proposed to express the nature of the impact. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the model separately for men and women.

Physical health and post-traumatic stress disorder: review and synthesis.

This article reviews the empirical evidence on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and physical health and considers this evidence in light of the physical health outcomes associated with other psychiatric disorders. The existing data show that PTSD is associated with poor self-reported health and increased utilization of medical services. To a lesser extent, the data also show an association between PTSD and increased morbidity.

Psychological benefits and liabilities of traumatic exposure in the war zone.

Data from the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study on 1,198 Vietnam theater veterans were used to examine the psychological benefits and liabilities of traumatic exposure in the war zone. Psychological benefits and liabilities were found to be largely independent of one another and to be related positively to the dose of traumatic exposure. Additionally, there was a curvilinear trend in the form of an inverted U, such that psychological benefits, most notably solidarity with others, were stronger at intermediate compared to high and low levels of exposure.

Family systems therapy after Operation Desert Storm with European-theater veterans.

We describe a quasi-experimental trial of time-limited family therapy with veterans and families of veterans who served in Europe, outside the war zone, during Operation Desert Storm (ODS). Family systems therapy was provided both to individuals and conjointly to couples or families during the acute postwar readjustment period. The intervention adapted strategies from structural, strategic, intergenerational, and behavioral family therapies in a brief-treatment protocol for systemic stressor resolution.

Effects of compensation-seeking on treatment outcomes among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

The desire to acquire or increase financial compensation for a psychiatric disability is widely believed to introduce a response bias into patients' reports of their symptoms and their work performance. The hypothesized effects of compensation-seeking in inhibiting improvement from treatment are examined. Data from outpatient (N = 455) and inpatient (N = 553) programs for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder and associated disorders in the Department of Veterans Affairs were used to compare outcomes for veterans who were and were not seeking compensation.

Social support and psychopathology in the war zone.

Unit cohesion and homecoming support are examined for their protective effects on the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychopathology. Data on 1198 male theater veterans were taken from the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study. Unit cohesion had no significant relationship, as a direct effect, to either PTSD or other psychopathology.