Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2005. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-149). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, Mass., 2000. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 309-326).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Dept. of Psychology. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2006. / "A dissertation in psychology." Advisor: Lisa Terre. Typescript. Vita. Title from "catalog record" of the print edition Description based on contents viewed Oct. 30, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 140-158 ). Online version of the print edition.

This work documents the treatment of a 20-year-old male suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of his experience during two years of national service as an Operations "Ops" Medic in the South African Defence Force. The literature review is drawn largely from the body of work emerging from the Vietnam War, and in particular the work of Robert Lifton and Erwin Parson is considered. The case study consists of a detailed synopsis of the treatment based upon material from the therapy sessions. This section hopes to accurately convey the experience of working with someone suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and provide insight into the dynamics of such a therapeutic relationship. Finally the discussion examines the links between the theory and the treatment and attempts to understand the various factors which shaped and influenced the final outcome of the therapy. Special consideration is given to showing how essentially cognitive restructuring techniques are successfully utilised within a more existential, psychodynamic framework. Furthermore, there is a paucity of literature on the subject of combat-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in South Africa and it is hoped that this work will both point to a need for further research in this field whilst simultaneously provide guidance for those who wish to become involved in working with individuals suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Most law enforcement officers experience a traumatic event within the first 3 years of duty but may not receive proper mental health training in the police academy to prepare them for a career in law enforcement, and little is understood about police academy training regarding mental health. Using secondary traumatic stress (STS) as a conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the perspective of law officers on the usefulness of academy training to prevent or manage mental health issues that may arise from law enforcement duty. Data were collected from 35 law enforcement officers in a Southern state through an online, qualitative survey. These data were inductively coded and subjected to a thematic analysis procedure. Findings indicate that both STS and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are shunned topics in the law enforcement community. Additionally, respondents perceived that reconstructing police academy training manuals to include personal stress management and increasing awareness of STS may better protect law enforcement officers and enhance community relations while providing a more sustainable police force. The positive social change implications of this study include recommendations to police academies to include mental health training and preparation as part of early academy training to promote better mental health among police officers and reduce the negative effects of STS and PTSD.

This study discusses the assessment and treatment of a 21-year old male who had suffered multiple traumas, which had culminated in the death of his younger brother. He presented with Acute Stress Disorder. The literature review examines a diverse range of theorists and discourses, that have addressed the psychological consequences of trauma and highlights the complexity of the phenomena involved. The case study, located in the South African context, aims to sensitise the reader to the unique dilemmas facing each trauma survivor, and serves to highlight specifically those areas, which are pertinent and further more contribute significantly to the recovery process. The case narrative consists of a detailed synopsis of the therapy process, extracted from the session record notes documented at the time. Several other sources of information, including contributions from the participant, were used to verify and validate the accuracy of the data included. The narrative is written in a style that conveys the intensity of the nature of trauma work and the manner in which both patient and clinician are frequently confronted with very difficult emotional work. Finally the discussion examines the case narrative through the use of a set of carefully selected hermeneutic questions. These focused on (I) key concepts from the work of Robert Lifton who highlights the existential dimensions of the impact of trauma; (2) the role of the image in encapsulating the complex traumatic and post-traumatic experience of the survivor as well as facilitating the emotional processing of the trauma is examined; (3) the contribution to the process of therapy of aspects of the therapeutic relationship; and (4) the concept of recovery in relation to the question of what constitutes 'trauma work'. In conclusion, several meta-theoretical issues related to trauma, the strengths and weaknesses inherent to the research and relevant future areas of research are highlighted.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Posttraumatic stress Disorder (PTSD) has been researched and written about since its recognition as a disorder in the DSM-III in 1980. This study reviews the literature on PTSD and cognitive behavioural therapies, designed for its treatment. It covers the historical aspects of how the syndrome came to be identified, defined and recognized as a discrete disorder. The neurobiological features of the disorder, its cognitive processes, particularly those of dissociation and traumatic memory are dealt with. Cognitive behavioural therapies are reviewed, these include: relaxation; hypnosis; exposure; eye movement desensitization reprocessing; anxiety management training; cognitive therapy and combination therapies. Further areas for research are suggested based on the lacunae that have yet to be explored with regard to cognitive behavioral therapy treatments. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Posttraumatiesestressversteuring is nagevors en bespreek vandat dit in 1980 in die DSM-III as 'n versteuring herken is. Hierdie studie gee 'n oorsig van die literatuur oor PTSVen kognitiewe gedragsterapeutiese, ontwerp om dit te behandel. Dit gee 'n historiese oorsig van hoe dit geïdentifiseer, beskryf en gedefinieër is as 'n spesifieke gedragsversteuring. Die neurobiologiese implikasies van die versteuring, die kognitiewe kenmerke, veral die van dissosiasie en traumatiese geheue word ondersoek. Kognitiewe gedragsterapieword beskryf en sluit die volgende in: ontspanning; blootstelling, oogbewegingdesensiteringherprosering; angsbeheeropleiding; kognitiewe terapie en kombinasie terapie. Verdere areas vir navorsing word voorgestel en is gebasseer op die gebrekke wat bestaan in kognitiewebedragsterapie.

This dissertation is about how the concept of harm, damage or wound is applied as a metaphor to a site often called the self or the soul. This is the social space of the individual subject, which is, paradoxically, placed by our language and culture in a person’s interior – a place where we are all said to be vulnerable and endangered by a potentially hostile environment. The thesis consists of a series of studies which are designed to show how the concept of harm to an inner life emerges from different discursive contexts, and how it does so in distinctly variable versions: psychological, emotional, neurological or social, in more or less stable hybrid forms. Using primary sources which are mostly documentary, supported by some interviews, the studies range from a look at the psychiatric history of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and at the story of its rewriting in English tort law; the recent reprised popularity of attachment theory and its marriage to neurology and a look at the career of the concept of the emotional abuse of children as a social problem category in the legal/administrative processes of Child Protection. These are introduced by a first chapter which concentrates on the metaphoric content of invisible wounds or psychic trauma and the way it produces particular forms of the self. The studies which follow this are clustered around the literature and practices of the psychiatric, psychological, psycho-analytic, social work and legal professions, in order to show how the work of these professionals makes the concept of a psychic injury visible, discussible, treatable, administrable and justiciable. Through their efforts, it is argued, the concept moves from being a metaphor, hooked onto the palpable reality of a physical wound, to acquire a ‘facticity’ of its own; it becomes a reality through its achieved status as a social problem category and an ever present risk to self and self regulation at the turn of the 21st century.

In this PhD thesis, the lives and experiences of a group of combat veterans who began surfing following their return from war are explored. Having encountered life changing traumatic events and experienced much suffering (with many becoming diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder), these veterans joined an ex-services charity called Surf Action where they were introduced to surfing alongside other veterans who shared their suffering. The purpose of this research is to explore the effects of surfing and, more broadly, of participation in the charity Surf Action in the veterans lives and on their well-being. It is the first in-depth qualitative investigation of surfing in the lives of combat veterans. Using a combination of life history interviews and participant observation, I collected and analysed stories from the veterans about their lived experiences. Through rigorously applying the innovative analytical approach of dialogical narrative analysis (Frank, 2010, 2012), also inspired by phenomenology, the effects of the veterans stories both on and for their lives and well-being are examined. The analysis first demonstrates that stories of surfing were focused on the veterans physical and sensory interactions with the ocean environment, and helped to cultivate the notion of embodied respite from suffering. It is then suggested that by telling and enacting a collective story, the veterans at Surf Action (the Combat Surfers ) created a therapeutic community through which they accessed mutual support, recreated positive military identities associated with camaraderie, and legitimised their struggles with PTSD. Next, the masculine performances which shaped the veterans actions and narratives around help-seeking and dealing with PTSD are highlighted. Furthermore, the analysis reveals the meanings associated with moving beyond the chaotic influence of trauma in the veterans lives and suggests ways of keeping well following trauma and PTSD. The thesis also incorporates an ethnographic creative non-fiction as a way of enhancing knowledge translation and facilitating wider impact and dissemination of the findings. Finally, the thesis concludes with empirical, theoretical, methodological, and practical implications of the research, with an emphasis throughout on what to the study adds to knowledge. The potential of surfing to contribute to veterans healthcare is discussed alongside recommendations for the charity Surf Action and future possibilities for expanding this research.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy