Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR, is a new clinical treatment shown to be effective for victims of trauma. EMDR is a time efficient, comprehensive methodology backed by positive, controlled research, for the treatment of disturbing experiences that underlie many pathologies. An eight phase treatment approach that includes using eye movements or other left-right stimulation, EMDR helps victims of trauma reprocess disturbing thoughts and memories. The purpose of this research project was to describe and explore the utilization of EMDR by licensed clinical social workers who were registered as members of the National Association of Social Workers.

This project explored the associations between the type of coping strategies used among women who live in domestic violence shelters and their overall well-being.

Bakgrund: Att vårdas på en barnintensivvårdsavdelning (BIVA) är en stressande miljö för både barn och föräldrar. Detta kan hindra föräldrar från att vara delaktiga i vården och nära sitt barn som är kritiskt sjuk. Barnets upplevelse av trygghet påverkas av förälderns mående och delaktighet i vården. Syfte: Studiens syfte var att undersöka föräldrars upplevelse av delaktighet i vården och förekomst av symptom på posttraumatisk stress (PTS) efter att deras barn vårdats på BIVA.  Metod: En retrospektiv deskriptiv design med kvantitativ och kvalitativ ansats användes, där 40 föräldrar besvarade två enkäter om upplevelse av delaktighet på BIVA och symptom på PTS. Resultat: Åttio procent av föräldrarna upplevde sig i stor utsträckning ha varit delaktiga i vården och i de beslut som rörde barnets vård. Föräldrarnas upplevelse av delaktighet resulterade i två huvudteman: Främjande och Hindrande faktorer för delaktighet. Det var en större andel mammor (41%) som visade symptom på PTS jämfört med pappor (12%) (p=0,038). Det var en större andel föräldrar som inte hade högskoleutbildning som visade symptom på PTS jämfört med föräldrar som hade högskoleutbildning (64% versus 14%). Slutsats: Föräldrar upplevde sig i stor grad vara delaktiga i beslut och barnets vård. Identifierade faktorer bland föräldrar med ökad förekomst att utveckla symptom på PTS var att vara mamma, yngre ålder och att inte ha en högskoleutbildning. / Background: Parents whose child was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) found it to be a stressful environment for both child and parent. This can restrict parents from being close and involved in their child's care. The child's sense of security is affected by the parents' feelings and involvement in care. Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate parents' experiences of participation in the care and parents' symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTS) after their child was discharged from the PICU. Method: A retrospective descriptive design was used with a quantitative and qualitative approach, where 40 parents answered two surveys about the experience of participation in PICU and symptoms of PTS. Result: Eighty percent of the parents felt that they had been involved in the care and in the decisions concerning the child's care. The parents’ experience of participation resulted in two main themes: promoting and inhibiting factors for participation. There was a higher proportion of mothers (41%) who showed symptoms of PTS compared to fathers (12%) (p=0,038). A higher percentage of parents who didn't have post-secondary education showed PTS symptoms, compared to those who did have post-secondary education (64% versus 14%). Conclusion: Parents reported that they had been involved in the care and in the decisions concerning the child's care. Symptoms of PTS among parents correlated with being a mother, younger age and lower educational level.

Researchers have found an overlap of psychological symptoms in victims of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Continuous Traumatic Stress. Although the circumstances inducing the psychological reactions are different, the symptoms mimic one another without a clear cut demarcation, calling for practitioners to be cautious of contexts inducing psychopathology that is triggered through re-experiencing of past trauma when they are assessing and intervening with ongoing trauma-exposed communities. This study explored the subjective experiences of 15 local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) administrators in Nigeria across 5 states, including the federal capital Abuja, about the intersectionality of their clients' persistent trauma experiences and their program planning and intervention strategies. The study leveraged complexity and organizational change models, using qualitative inquiry with open ended interview questions and purposive sampling. Questions probed administrators' modalities, orientations, and perceptions that inform organizational planning and interventions. Open-ended interviews of top local NGO administrators provided contrasting insights on current interventions. Data were collected and analyzed using constant comparative content analysis. Findings suggest that local NGO administrators currently lack the awareness and capacity to address their clients' psychosocial, behavioral, and mental health issues that are related to continuous, direct, and indirect violence. The study impacts social change by identifying gaps in current NGO administrators' efforts to reduce effects of violence and support peace in affected communities.

El objetivo general planteado en este estudio fue realizar un estudio bibliométrico de las publicaciones sobre el uso terapéutico del MDMA en relación al estrés post traumático utilizando como base de datos EBSCOhost. Para ello, se efectuó la búsqueda de las variables de investigación en la base de datos de EBSCOhost, hallándose 18 publicaciones de las cuales se seleccionaron 12 que cumplían con los criterios de inclusión, dichas publicaciones conformaron la muestra de estudio de la presente investigación. Posteriormente, se procedió a realizar el análisis bibliométrico de la muestra seleccionada. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran la gran cantidad de investigaciones exploratorias. Asimismo, se observa que todas las publicaciones presentan como parte de su contenido la introducción del artículo y el abstract del mismo. Finalmente, se concluye que la bibliometría es una herramienta provechosa para estimar los resultados de la investigación y poder dilucidar fenómenos que se presentan complejos de estudiar. Volviendo tangible la información y los procesos de nuevas sustancias en el uso clínico psicoterapéutico. / The general objective of this study was to perform a bibliometric study of the publications on the therapeutic use of MDMA in relation to post-traumatic stress using EBSCOhost as a database. To do this, the research variables were searched in the EBSCOhost database, finding 18 publications of which 12 met the inclusion criteria, these publications formed the study sample of the present investigation. Subsequently, the bibliometric analysis of the selected sample was done.The results obtained show the main presence of exploratory research. Likewise, it is observed that all publications present as part of their content the introduction of the article and the abstract of itself. Finally, it is concluded that bibliometrics is a useful tool for estimating research results and being able to elucidate phenomena that are complex to study. Making the information and processes of new substances tangible in psychotherapeutic clinical use. / Trabajo de investigación

This thesis inquiries into trauma, its historical developments, experience, and symptoms. The theoretical part lays stress on post-traumatic stress disorder and its classification and diagnosis for the readers to have an extensive knowledge of trauma. The readers are also presented with the quintessential aftermath of trauma. The practical part adverts to childhood trauma of the main protagonists of The Gathering and The Hiding Place by the authors Anne Enright and Trezza Azzopardi. The intention is to query what happened to these characters, rather than focusing on what is wrong with them. The objective is to see the person behind his or her behaviour. Many studies refer to increasing problems in terms of mental health by children and adolescents associated with early childhood trauma. The aim in what follows is to consider whether the harm to childhood trauma can be remedied or whether childhood trauma persists until old age. KEY WORDS: Childhood trauma; post-traumatic stress disorder; trauma fiction; Enright; Azzopardi; The Gathering; The Hiding Place

The subject of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Ritalin as a method of treatment, has received a lot of media attention in recent years as it appears to be the most “popular” diagnosis for children who are difficult, who struggle to pay attention and who are impulsive and hyperactive. Some medical professionals are of the opinion that incidences of the disorder are increasing, while others believe that the disorder is being misdiagnosed. There is a significant overlap in the symptoms of ADHD and those of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In South Africa, where many children are exposed to traumatic stimuli on a regular and ongoing basis, health care professionals cannot afford to overlook the possibility that children exhibiting symptoms of ADHD may, in fact, be traumatised. However, when examining the criteria for PTSD we find that the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV) does not adequately describe the differences between adult and childhood PTSD and also does not adequately account for children who may be in an almost continuous state of traumatic stress. Since there is increasing evidence of the interaction between mind/emotions and body, it is plausible that the emotions of children with ADHD play an important role in their condition, particularly if the child has suffered traumatic stress. The researcher believes that children who experience continuous traumatic stress may develop maladaptive responses which may eventually become traits, and that ADHD may be one such response. The goal of this exploratory study was to gain insight into the thoughts and feelings of a few children (case studies) who have been diagnosed with ADHD and who are in the middle childhood phase of development. The first objective was to gather knowledge regarding ADHD, traumatic stress, biological responses to trauma and to describe middle childhood and gestalt play therapy. In the empirical study, gestalt play therapy techniques were used to assess whether children with ADHD had suffered traumatic stress (particularly the loss of safety and security) prior to the diagnosis and whether they are able to express their thoughts and emotions appropriately. Since the study was qualitative, the researcher made use of observation and unstructured interviews (including play therapy sessions) to obtain background information from the parents and to explore the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of children with ADHD from their perspective. This study falls under applied research, undertaken with a view to creating preventative measures and improving interventions for children with ADHD and children who have suffered traumatic stress. The final objective of the study was to draw conclusions and make recommendations in order to promote awareness of the likelihood of traumatic stress in children with ADHD in South Africa. The researcher concluded that the respondents in this study have indeed suffered traumatic stress in the form of loss of safety and security, related to an inadequate bond with a responsive, nurturing caregiver. In addition, they have difficulty expressing their thoughts and emotions. / Dissertation (Magister Socialis Diligentiae (Play Therapy))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Magister Commercii (Industrial Psychology) - MCom(IPS) / The current crime rate in the Western Cape plays a crucial role in the exposure of police officers to stressful and traumatic events. The intensity and frequency of this exposure, if not treated, could lead to police officers experiencing comorbid disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This leads to an increased need for trauma intervention strategies to be offered, to assist police officers who are exposed to trauma in the South African Police Service (SAPS). Although trauma intervention programmes are established within SAPS, a difference in perception about their effectiveness and service offering are presented. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in perception toward stress and trauma intervention strategies within the SAPS in the Western Cape. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, the researcher, tapped into the lived experiences of current police officers and Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) staff, employed by SAPS through semi-structured interviews. Through a comparative design, the study will add value to the current body of knowledge, as differences and similarities between two of the primary role players in the trauma debriefing process within the SAPS are explored. The research sample, recruited by means of convenience sampling, consisted of seven EHW staff members who had experience with dealing with stress and trauma-related programmes, and eight visible policing police officers who had experienced some form of trauma-related incident. The researcher made use of an in-depth interview guide as the research instrument for this study, which consisted of audio-recorded semi-structured interviews with the participants. The audio recordings were transcribed, and then analysed by means of thematic analysis. The findings showed that a difference in perception exists between police officers and EHW staff members toward the effectiveness of trauma intervention strategies offered in the SAPS. The findings also suggest that the majority of police officers do not make use of the trauma intervention programmes in the SAPS, in comparison to EHW staff reporting on good attendance by police officers at the service offerings. Similarities in perception between the two groups presented itself in the form of how trauma is defined, the different responses to trauma and coping mechanisms employed by police officers. The implications of this study include a contribution toward policy and structural amendments of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) framework within the SAPS, as well as a motivation for implementing a compulsory trauma counselling programme for police officers.

No description available.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Arts (Masters). / As the past decade has witnessed a growing interest in the nature, causes and management of stress reactions in emergency workers, the present study examined emergency workers' reactions to traumatic work related incidents. Furthermore, although Job Dissatisfaction and Increased levels of Turnover have been identified in literature and research on emergency workers as being behavioural manifestations of the traumatic stress associated with emergency work, the effect of occupational trauma on these variables has not been documented extensively in trauma literature or research. A second aim of the study was therefore to provide further insight into the effects of work related trauma on these constructs. Moreover, although literature on emergency workers has not documented the impact of occasional trauma on Job Involvement, the present study undertook to examine the effects of trauma on tnis construct. The study was considered to be exploratory in this regard. By examining how exposure to occupational trauma impacts on Job Satisfaction, Job involvement and Propensity to Leave, it was hoped that this will lead to a better understanding of the effects of occupational trauma and its implications for employees and organisations alike. One hundred full-time paramedics completed a self-report questionnaire. The questionnaire also included questions to obtain demographic variables as it has been documented that the relationship between exposure to traumatic events and the expression of distress is constructed by personal factors. In addition, qualitative data pertaining to the constructs under investigation was obtained from 30 paramedics. The reported symptoms revealed that 17% of the sample was suffering from rrso. Correlational analyses using a non-experimental, cross-sectional design, revealed a significant relationship between PTSD and Job Satisfaction. A non-significant relationship was found between PTSD and both Job Involvement and Propensity to Leave, Of the demographic variables measured, stepwise regression analysis. revealed that gender and previous exposure to trauma were the most efficient predictors of PTSD Content Analyses performed on the qualitative data indicated that paramedics were subjected to numerous job stressors which seemed to associated to Job Involvement and Propensity to Leave. The results of the study are discussed with respect of the literature reviewed and limitations and implications of these findings are discussed thereafter. Lastly implications of the present study for future research are presented. / Andrew Chakane 2018