Animal-assisted Therapy (AAT) for post-traumatic stress disorder is an interesting and appealing topic for many clinicians. This blog identifies a recently published text that includes information about AAT with practical clinical applications but also information likely to appeal to a wider audience, including non-clinicians.
When developing a case conceptualization, we often consider the co-occurring psychological factors at play; however, we may neglect to fully consider the many social factors involved. Maercker and Horn (2013) developed a three level model of socio-interpersonal factors related to the development of PTSD, which can be useful when forming a case conceptualization. The first level considers social affective changes and encompasses factors such as shame, guilt, anger, and revenge. The second level examines close social relationships including social support, and the third level includes distant social contexts such as one’s culture.
The percentage of "(w)omen serving in the U.S. military" who "report mental health problems," according to a recent study from the RAND Corporation -- Gender Differences in Health Among U.S. Service Members. Among male service members, it's 15%.
Today you’re meeting a new patient. They present with a history of combat trauma and report significant sleep disturbances including problems falling asleep because they fear they will have another nightmare.
This may feel familiar to you, and there is a good reason for that. Nightmares are incredibly common after a traumatic event, with some estimates suggesting posttraumatic nightmares occur in 90% of patients with PTSD.
Trauma. The word means different things to different people and in different circumstances. Sometimes the word refers to intense distress. Sometimes it means actual physical tissue damage. Sometimes it means an emotional upset. And all of these definitions are legitimate and understood in specific contexts