M.A. / On-going traumatic events have become a tragic reality within South African society, with ubiquitous psychological consequences for those involved. The major political upheaval - specifically in the past five years - and the process of transition to a new South Africa has had an impact on all South Africans. Journalists have played a fundamental role in the process of transition, and many have been exposed to scenes of extreme unrest and accompanying violence. It is apparent that the need exists to study the effects of on-going stress in this group of individuals. This study regarding the effects of unabated exposure to violence and trauma in journalists (specifically crime reporters) had the following objectives: (I) A comprehensive literature survey which focuses on the theory and history of combat-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Theory that has developed in response to disaster psychology was included. (ii) An investigation of the effects of exposure to unremitting violence and trauma in a journalistic context. The initial part of the study focuses on a thorough theoretical investigation which provides a systemic framework for the conceptualization of PTSD. The literature reveals that not all individuals develop Posttraumatic Stress Disorder after a traumatic event; PTSD in individuals who have been exposed to on-going violence and trauma cannot be conceptualized on a linear level, whereby following exposure to a specific stressor/trauma, the inevitable outcome would be PTSD. It is clear that although the stressor is necessary, it is not sufficient to cause the disorder. On the contrary, there are other factors which play a fundamental role in whether or not the victim perceives the event as overwhelmingly stressful. These factors are termed - mediating factors" and include pre-existing biological factors, pre-existing psycho-social factors and events that occurred post-trauma (such as the availability of an adequate support system). The fact that insufficient psychological assistance subsequent to exposure to the trauma was available to the group of journalists that took part in the study, was apparent. The reasons for this may have been that due to the "macho-ethic" that pervades their functioning the individuals in question, deny themselves access to a structured and regular way of defusing their experiences. A criticism that could be levelled against this study is that the researcher elected to conduct a single interview with each journalist. The issues that arose as a result of the interviews were real, but were not able to be dealt with and followed up on. A further criticism is that there has been a relatively extended time factor between the heightened trauma and violence to which the journalists were subjected and the interview that provided the material for this study. Trauma has conventionally been defined as a linear occurrence, as an external event which impacts on people's lives in a random, haphazard manner. However, it is strongly felt that it should be seen within a bigger ecosystemic context as an event which has become so much a part of our society as we currently know it. Recommendations were made as a result of the study, and these are: that a follow-up study be conducted which would have as it's aim an in-depth investigation of individual long-term cases in journalists who are victims of violence; that journalists be afforded mandatory psychological intervention following their exposure to violence and trauma as it is clear that psychotherapy is strongly indicated for individuals with PTSD; that group programmes be devised with the objective of educating this group of individuals with regard to PTSD and other severe stress responses.

Cease Fire is a war story told from one woman’s perspective. It’s about a farm girl and her battles fought as young soldier serving on a remote nuke site during the Cold War. It’s the interpretations of lived experiences, highs and lows of a military career fused with family life, and spanning over three decades. Like true war stories, Cease Fire has little to do with actual war. It is a sometimes humorous, but often tragic attempt to make peace and to make sense of the places, comrades and enemies that graced and plagued a career. First names and nicknames were used to protect the privacy of a few and render respect for the surviving children of a fallen two.

This study aimed to examine the relationships between crime exposure and posttraumatic stress symptomatology, and crime exposure and fear of crime. More specifically it set out to establish a possible causal link between crime exposure and posttraumatic stress symptomatology and fear of crime. In addition, it then aimed to identify and explore the possible moderating effect of coping style, (problem-focused, emotion-focused and dysfunctional coping) on the afore-mentioned relationships. The study was conducted on a Johannesburg based, tertiary student population (n = 123) and employed self-report questionnaires to solicit responses which were then subject to statistical analyses. Findings for the relationship between crime exposure and posttraumatic stress symptomatology indicated that increased exposure to crime was predictive of higher posttraumatic stress symptomatology. However a comparison of the relationship between non-crime related traumas and posttraumatic stress symptomatology suggested that crime exposure was not the only predictor of posttraumatic stress symptomatology. Similarly, findings for the relationship between crime exposure and fear of crime indicated that increased exposure to crime was predictive of increased fear of crime levels. Again, however, a comparison of the relationship between non-crime related traumas and fear of crime suggested that crime exposure was not the only predictor of fear of crime. In reference to the possible moderating effects of coping styles on the relationships between crime exposure and posttraumatic stress symptomatology, and crime exposure and fear of crime, no significant moderating effects were found for problem-focused, emotion-focused or dysfunctional coping. Dysfunctional coping was significantly associated with higher levels of traumatic stress symptomatology and fear of crime, but independent of exposure patterns. Visible patterns of relationship with regard to both problem focused and emotion focused coping appeared to be more complex than would be expected based on existing findings in the literature.

La réponse à l’agression est à la fois neuroendocrinienne, neurovégétative et comportementale. Elle implique particulièrement l’amygdale. Celle-ci joue en effet un rôle dans l’anxiété et la peur mais également dans la constitution d’un syndrome de stress post-traumatique (i.e. SSPT). La réponse comportementale à une situation de stress a été peu étudiée chez les patients admis dans un service de Réanimation, alors que des études indiquent qu’une réponse inadaptée de l’axe corticotrope ou du système nerveux autonome serait associée à une surmortalité ou la survenue d’une défaillance multiviscérale. Au décours de leur séjour en réanimation, les patients sont à haut risque de développer des troubles psychologiques (i.e. anxiété, dépression et SSPT) et cognitifs (i.e. affectant préférentiellement la mémoire et les fonctions exécutives) qui ont un impact majeur sur leur qualité de vie et qui seraient proportionnels à la sévérité de leur maladie aiguë et de son retentissement neuro-comportemental. L’objet de notre travail a été d’une part, de décrire quantitativement et qualitativement l’anxiété des patients admis de réanimation et d’en déterminer sa valeur pronostique ; d’autre part, d’étudier le lien entre activation amygdalienne et syndrome post-traumatique dans un modèle murin de sepsis par ligature-ponction caecale (i.e. CLP). Notre étude observationnelle a porté sur 354 patients (Age, 63 ans [49-73] ; Sexe F/H, 137/217) admis dans trois services de réanimation d’Île de France entre Janvier 2014 et Septembre 2016. L’anxiété était en médiane d’intensité modérée, selon l’échelle visuelle analogique (4 [1-6) et le questionnaire STAI (41 [31-53]). La moitié des patients rapportaient se sentir vulnérables (54%) ; considérer leur état grave (67 %) et avoir peur de mourir (45%). Une défaillance d’organe a été observée chez 157 (45%) des patients. Une valeur de STAI ≥ 40 (OR 1,69, 95%CI [1,02-2,84]) était associée à la survenue d’une défaillance d’organe après ajustement sur le score de défaillance d’organe SOFA à J1, la mise en route d’une ventilation mécanique non-invasive (OR 4,93 ; 95%CI [2,9-9,4]) et la gravité d’une pathologie préexistante selon le score Knaus (OC2,01 95%CI [1,21-3,33]) et la peur de mourir (OR 0,55 [0,33-0,92]). Celle-ci était significativement associée à un risque moindre de défaillance parmi les patients ayant une maladie aiguë sévère, définie par un score IGS-2 > 30 (58% vs. 37%). Cette étude indique que l’évaluation de l’anxiété est utile pour estimer le risque d’aggravation des patients de réanimation mais indique également que si son intensité est positivement corrélée à la survenue d’une défaillance, un défaut de perception d’un danger (tel que l’exprimerait la peur de mourir) en augmenterait le risque. Notre étude expérimentale a mis en évidence une activation précoce (i.e. à H6 de la CLP) et transitoire des neurones CAMK-II positif du noyau central de l’amygdale (CeA) et des anomalies tardives (i.e. J15 après CLP) de l’open-field test (test en libre champ) et du Fear-conditionning (test de formation de la mémoire aversive), traduisant respectivement un comportement type anxieux et une hypermémorisation de la peur, qui s’apparenterait à un SSPT. Nous avons procédé à une inhibition pharmacogénétique par transfection virale des neurones CAMKII, qui a entraîné une réduction de l’hyper-mémorisation aversive induite par le sepsis. L’enregistrement électrophysiologique intra-amygadalienne a mis en évidence une activité pro-épileptique ou épileptique chez les souris septiques. L’administration d’un antiépileptique, le levetiracetam au cours des 24 premières heures de la CLP a résulté en une diminution de la mortalité, de l’activation des neurones CAMKII du noyau central de l’amygdale et de l’hyper-mémorisation aversive induites par le sepsis. (...) / Systemic insults trigger neuroendocrine, neurovegetative and behavioural responses. Amygdala is particularly involved in anxiety and fear but also in the generation of post-traumatic stress disorder (i.e. PTSD). Amygdala is part of the limbic system and modulates the neuroendocrine and the autonomous nervous system activity. Behavioural changes to critical illness has been poorly studied in ICU-admited patients, despite studies showing that non-adapted corticotropic axis or autonomic nervous system responses correlate with a higher mortality or organ failures. During their ICU stay, patients are at high risk of developing psychological (e.g. anxiety, depression or PTSD), and cognitive alterations (e.g. memory and executive functions) with a major impact on their long-term quality of life. Such alterations intensity is correlated with the severity of critical illness. Our present work aimed, on the one hand at assessing at ICU admission patients’ anxiety and its prognostic value, and on the other hand, at characterizing the link between amygdalar activation and PTSD in a murine model of caecal ligation and puncture (i.e. CLP). 354 patients were included in our observational study (median age 63 [IQR 49-73], sex 137W/217M), from 3 Ile-De-France ICU between January 2014 and September 2016). Median anxiety was moderate according to both visual scale (4 [1-6]) and STAI questionnaire (43[32-53]). Half of participants declared (54%) feeling vulnerable; considered their state to be severe (67%) and feared to die (45%). One organ failure – mostly neurological, but also the need for mechanical ventilation, dialysis or vasopressive catecholamines during the first 7 days – was present in 157 (45%) patients. A STAI index ≥ 40 (OR 4.93 ; 95% CI[1.02 – 2.84]) was associated with the occurrence of an organ failure, even after adjusting for the day-1 SOFA score, the onset of a mechanical ventilation (OR 4.93, 95CI [2.9 – 9.4]), the Knaus score of prior pathologies severity (OC 2.01, 95CI [1.21 – 3.33]) and fear of death. (OR 0.55 [0.33 -0.92]). The latter significantly associating with a decreased risk of organ failure among patients with a severe acute pathology as defined by a IGS-2 >30 (58% vs. 37%). This study shows that evaluating early anxiety can prove useful in predicting patient aggravation risk in ICU, but also indicates that if its intensity positively predicts the onset of organ failures, the lack of perceived severity (lower fear of death) would also associate with an increased risk of failure. Our experimental study higlighted an early (i.e. 6H post CLP) and transitory activation of Central Amygdala (CeA) CAMK-II positive neurons, and delayed (i.e D15 post CLP) alterations in open field and fear-conditioning tests, respectively indicating an anxious behaviour and fear hypermnesia, both critical aspects of PTSD. Pharmacogenetic inhibition of CAMK-II neurons by viral transduction led to a decrease in aversive sepsis-induced hypermnesia. Administration of Levetiracetam, an antipeileptic drug, during the first 24h post-CLP led to a decrease in sepsis-induced mortality, in CAMK-II CeA neurons activation and in aversive memory. Amygdalar neuronal activation was also associated with microglial morphological alterations, partly prevented by levetiracetam, and reminiscent of alterations seen in septic shock autopsic samples. Our experimental work shows an increased activity in CAMK-II amygdalar neurons during early sepsis, potentially implicated in the onset of sepsis-induced anxiety and PTSD. this constitutes a plausible neuro-anatomical and neuro-biological background to our clinical study showing the prognostic interest of early anxiety assessment in ICU patients, as it positively correlates with both stress intensity and the misperception of danger.

Submitted by Ana Lúcia Torres (bfmhuap@gmail.com) on 2017-09-19T14:43:53Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_Julciney 100117 Juntada (1).pdf: 3403872 bytes, checksum: 28c5845618df3ef9e51842da6dcf5554 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Lúcia Torres (bfmhuap@gmail.com) on 2017-09-19T14:46:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_Julciney 100117 Juntada (1).pdf: 3403872 bytes, checksum: 28c5845618df3ef9e51842da6dcf5554 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-19T14:46:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_Julciney 100117 Juntada (1).pdf: 3403872 bytes, checksum: 28c5845618df3ef9e51842da6dcf5554 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / Projeto Médico de Família de Niterói / Introdução: Apesar do Transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) e do tabagismo serem prevalentes, não há estudos no Brasil sobre a associação entre recaída, cessação do tabagismo e TEPT em comunidades de baixa renda. Objetivos: Avaliar a frequência de recaída na tentativa de abandonar o hábito de fumar em indivíduos com e sem TEPT, bem como analisar os fatores a ela associada. Métodos: Estudo transversal de adultos vinculados ao PMF (Programa Médico de Família) selecionados entre julho de 2006 a dezembro de 2007 conduzido a partir do Estudo CAMELIA (cardio-neuro-metabólico-renal familiar em Niterói). As associações foram estimadas através do modelo de Equações de Estimação Generalizadas. Resultados: O estudo foi representado por uma população de 320 indivíduos que já fumaram pelo menos 100 cigarros em suas vidas, dos quais 20% nunca tentaram parar de fumar, 52,2% eram ex-fumantes e 27,8% eram recidivantes. A prevalência de TEPT foi de 23,8% e dos três grupos de sintomas do TEPT (revivescência, evitação e hiperestimulação) foi de 22,2%, 25% e 20,6% respectivamente. Cor da pele (parda), frequência de consumo de álcool (nunca) e a pontuação PCL-C geral e grupo de sintomas (maior que o percentil 75) mostraram associação univariada estatisticamente significativa (p ≤0,15) com recaída de tabagismo. Sexo (mulheres), cor da pele (branca), IMC (< 25) e depressão (escore BDI > 19) apresentaram associação univariada (p ≤0,15) com TEPT (maior que percentil 75 na pontuação PCL-C geral e grupos de sintomas). As associações entre recaída e PCL-C geral, revivescência e hiperestimulação foram semelhantes para ambos, homem e mulher, cor de pele preta e não preta, e até 5 anos de estudo e 5 ou mais anos de estudo, indicando que não há interação. Para o grupo da evitação, as diferenças foram maiores, apontando para a existência de uma interação para sexo, cor da pele e escolaridade. Nos modelos estatísticos múltiplos testados apenas a recaída e a depressão foram fatores associados de forma significativa ao TEPT. Conclusão: A associação entre a recaída e o TEPT foi confirmada nesta investigação. / Introduction: Although posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and smoking are prevalent, there are no studies in Brazil on the association between relapse, smoking cessation and PTSD in low-income communities. Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of relapse in the attempt to quit smoking in individuals with and without PTSD, as well as to analyze the factors associated with it. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of adults enrolled in the Family Medical Program selected from July 2006 to December 2007, conducted from the CAMELIA Study (cardio-neuro-metabolic-renal family in Niterói). The associations were estimated using the Generalized Estimation Equation model. Results: The study was represented by a population of 320 individuals who had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lives, of whom 20% never tried to quit smoking, 52.2% were ex-smokers and 27.8% were relapsed. The prevalence of PTSD was 23.8% and of the three symptom clusters (re-experiencing, avoidance and hyperarousal) were 22.2%, 25% and 20.6%, respectively. Skin color (brown), frequency of alcohol consumption (never) and overall PCL-C score and symptom clusters (greater than the 75th percentile) showed a statistically significant univariate association (p ≤0.15) with smoking relapse. Gender (women), skin color (white), BMI (<25) and depression (BDI score> 19) had a univariate association (p ≤0.15) with PTSD (greater than 75th percentile in the general PCL-C score and symptom clusters). The associations between relapse and general PCL-C, re-experiencing and hyperarousal were similar for both male and female, skin color black and not black, and up to 5 years of study and 5 or more years of study, indicating that there was no interaction. For the avoidance group, the differences were greater, pointing to the existence of an interaction for sex, skin color and schooling. In multiple, fully-tested models, only relapse and depression were significantly associated with PTSD. Conclusion: The association between relapse and PTSD was confirmed in this investigation.

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