Talk:Psychological trauma

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Betrayal trauma

There's a lot of talk now about "Betrayal trauma" (even the ref I added talks of it). I don't know if there should be a special section on it though. It may just be a passing pop-psychology buzz word. --DanielCD 21:45, 5 December 2005 (UTC)

I think, for the short term, its fine if the article over-emphasizes the particular interest of its one actual reference. The way to correct this is to incorporate more material, both historical and contemporary, so that some detail about specializations appears in a balanced way in the end. Jkelly 21:52, 5 December 2005 (UTC)

Just a note to say ta for providing a pdf to go with the reference. As most academic institutions do not accept information from Wikipedia as reliable (which means it cannot be cited), having the original source is invaluable! It looks like it was scanned in, so I just wanted to say thank you for the effort - it is much appreciated! AD. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.7.54.93 (talk • contribs)

Wikipedia is a launching point for research, not an end point. That's why references are most important here. --DanielCD 18:54, 12 April 2006 (UTC)

Sources

Several of the sources in this article are not longer working, this includes the first one.

Dec. 5 expansion

Everything looks good to me. I do have a couple of recommendations, however. One is that "earthquake" be de-wikified; a reader can be expected to know what the word means and that article doesn't provide further background for this one. I find the Post-cult trauma link dubious. If there is no obvious way to work it into the text, that suggests it is tangential. The "Further reading" section doesn't strike me as the best selection of encyclopedic references, but I have no familiarity with that kind of literature, so I may well be wrong. In any case, the subject is large enough that this article could be expanded a great deal more, and I suggest that the recent editing is a great start. Jkelly 21:52, 5 December 2005 (UTC)

I removed one of the further reading books. I'll look at the others. I left the Post-cult trauma link for now; I'll give some thought to whether it belongs. The articles it leads to are... odd in themselves and perhaps could use a peek (maybe my next project). That link looked funny to me as well; that's why I moved it to the bottom. I left the empty "Symptoms" section header for now as well, as this really needs to be included. I'll see what I can whip up tonight or tomorrow. --DanielCD 22:03, 5 December 2005 (UTC)

Interwikis

There must be more interwiki links for a subject as general as this. --DanielCD 19:03, 7 January 2006 (UTC)

• Bromberg, Philip M. (2003). "Something Wicked This Way Comes: Trauma, Dissociation, and Conflict: The Space Where Psychoanalysis, Cognitive Science and Neuroscience Overlap." Psychoanalytic Psychology. 20(3). pp. 558-574.

This is a very interesting article that I might refer to here, so I'm temp. placing the ref for my convenience. --DanielCD 22:28, 17 February 2006 (UTC)

Category

I would suggest to add this article to the category 'psychology' or 'clinical psychology' - would anyone have objections to that?

heli^x 10:08, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

ABSOLUTELY! But I see that this hasn't been done yet. To categorize it as a "medical" topic is a fundamental mislead. I really dislike this sort of mistake. We simply are not ready to reduce psychological trauma to an organic phenomena. It's not likely ever to happen, since what's involved is about learning and conditioning.

While psychologica trauma ultimately IS surely reducible to physical entities, it is not yet something we actually can do, and it is important not to mislead non-professionals about this. When bugs in my word process application program can be usefully connected to errors in circuitry and transient computer memory, then I'll see the realistic possibility of making psychological trauma an organic concept. But...we probably CAN presently reduce computer program errors to error in transcient memory - yet no one does this, for a single very important reason: it isn't useful. Likewise with making psychological trauma a fundamentally organic thing.

If it's not fundamentally organic, then it's not fundamentally medical, and IS fundamentally psychological.

It's critical for us to use appropriate, and useful, cognitive frameworks when thinking about this increasingly important construct.

Tomcloyd (talk) 03:44, 25 August 2008 (UTC)

Article copied?

The article seems to be copied word-for-word from the link in the end. Is this acceptable wikipedia policy?

Could you be more specific about which link? I looked through them and didn't see anything immediately obvious. --DanielCD 03:33, 22 June 2006 (UTC)

Please add a link to mobbing.ca

Mobbing is a severe form of workplace bullying with results in debilitaing psychological trauma. Here is an excerpt from the "Health Issues" page at mobbing.ca (http://mobbing.ca).

The mobbed employee who has become our patient suffers from a traumatic environment: psychiatric, social insurance office, personnel department, managers, co-workers, labor unions, doctors in general practice, company health care, etc., can, if events progress unfavorably, produce worse and worse traumata.

Thus, our patients, like raped women, find themselves under a continuing threat. As long as the perpetrator is free, the woman can be attacked again. As long as the mobbed individual does not receive effective support, he or she can be torn to pieces again at any time.

Thus, these individuals find themselves in a prolonged stress - and in a prolonged trauma-creating situation. Instead of a short, acute (and normal!) PTSD reaction that can subside after several days or weeks, theirs is constantly renewed: new traumata and new sources of anxiety arise in a constant stream during which time the individual experiences rights violations that further undermine his or her self-confidence and psychological health. The unwieldy social situation for these individuals consists not only of severe psychological trauma but of an extremely prolonged stress condition that seriously threatens the individual's socio-economic existence. Torn out of their social network, the majority of mobbing victims face the threat of early retirement, with permanent psychological damage.

You can find more information at http://mobbing.ca

For your convenience here is the link you can add to "External links":

• mobbing.ca (Mobbing resources in Canada)

Radyx 02:26, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

Reference #5?

I think reference #5 got dropped in the text, although it is still listed in the reference section. I assume it goes with the quotes, but someone who knows should put it back where it should go. Thnks. --Adam Rothstein 16:05, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

Vicarious trauma

Vicarious trauma: as i don't feel comfortable yet creating a new article on this topic, will suggest it to those who may be interested in doing so. here is a start... there's a lot of material out there:

http://www.uic.edu/orgs/convening/vicariou.htm

i'd like to help out with this article because i am someone who currenly sufferes from this type of trauma (in my situation, secondary trauma and burnout by a long-term disaster relief volunteer), but don't know how to start yet. if there's any interest in collaboration, please let me know.

--Okcancel 19:14, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

Reference to sanity

As far as I know sanity is mostly a legal term, I would expect this article to have a more phsychiatric/psychologic bias, do we really need that term in this article?

As far as I've known, there have been not many studies about trauma until recent years. I have had several life situations probably as a result of stalking ending with assault that have brought on a major depression. I can remember many of the symptoms listed here, such as not wanting to discuss it yet and not wanting therapy until I was in a safer place. As far as the sanity issue goes, I think it has a subconscious implication about why the person was wrong when they couldn't control the situation themselves; being out of control of their lives and so on. But definitely not meaning they don't have their sanity anymore. In addition to the insomnia, avoidance has happened as getting more sleep than usual so as not to deal with the problem when it's painful. Also, like some overweight people need to understand that food is not the enemy, it's a matter of choices, I learned that picking my battles, in the line of self defense, helped me reestablish my boundaries and channel my anger or adrenaline into productive kinds of therapy; rest being one of them. I make social security disability so another reference is the main website for that.Neenbail 05:22, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

Childbirth

There has been discussion on the posttraumatic stress disorder article discussion page about the inclusion of childbirth as an example cause of trauma. It has been suggested that it could go on this article. I am not alone in thinking it is an important example to list in either one or the other or both articles, but attempts to introduce it are being edited out. How can we reach some agreement on this topic?

If rape and combat are due mentions (and I think they are) how can childbirth not be? The evidence of PTSD resulting from childbirth is growing and, here in the UK at least, it is recognised by at least some obstetricians in practise.

It does feel as if some editors have a POV that childbirth ought not be recognised - perhaps they think it is too trivial or "natural". I think that is untenable and not consistent with the evidence.

I'd welcome suggestions on how to resolve this or explanations as to why childbirth appears to be facing a higher bar than other examples.Domod 10:40, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

I am a Clinical Psychologist who is of the opinion that the underlying factor in PTSD is an Existential Crisis (See Wikepedia re Existential Crisis) issue resulting in the emotional reactions, feelings, and behavior of those who are so diagnosed and that assisting persons in recognising and confronting this issue is likely more likely to be of more assistance than formal psychotherapy and/or medication. I am interested in other members opinions about this concept.--RoslindaleBoy (talk) 20:19, 13 November 2008 (UTC)

Significant Emotional Event

I started a stub article on Significant Emotional Event, but subsequently discovered this article. Would someone please review the two and evaluate if they should be merged? Simesa (talk) 16:19, 23 January 2009 (UTC)

traumatic event link?

the traumatic event link leads to the physical trauma article, which begs the suggestion that only trauma as the result of physical harm can be traumatic, completely neglecting the fact that a traumatic event can also be something like emotional abuse or abandonment by a parent. Am i wrong? Is there no empirical evidence to support the claim that things other than physical trauma can be traumatic?(unsigned)

It is just as valid to link here as well. --Penbat (talk) 14:23, 31 January 2010 (UTC)

TRAUMA RESEARCH: PEAKSTATES.ORG - you should read into and consider more of the new stuff thats coming in recently:

wikipedia should be up to date

and if you are working with this page and are interested in trauma and the research being done on healing trauma and understanding what trauma is in the first place , you need be open to approaches read here:

http://www.peakstates.com/index.html

(very elaborate, been going on for ten years and longer.

which has led to this reference point therapy - which is based on the peakstates work http://www.rptblog.com/

being founded last year 2009 , where the achievements of the above gentlemen and women have been picked up and integrated.

and its not only about psychological trauma because the line between psychological and physical is not a line at all. so i have to mention

http://www.thereconnection.com/

because thats leading edga trauma work for you there, since its not poking around in the traumatic events and the associated vibrational frequencies in the first place but is all about uplifting out of those bad vibes (in the case of reconnection by re-syncing re-tuning the organelles - actually like polishing the contacts within the cells... enuf, no spoilers. really, look into it !

thanks,

urbanizt —Preceding unsigned comment added by Urbanizm (talk • contribs) 00:41, 9 April 2010 (UTC)

In history

Given the poor living conditions, widespread violence, diseases and constant wars, etc. of earlier ages, one wonders whether being traumatized was more or less the "normal" state of human affairs in those times? If so, how did societies deal with it? Also, does the human reaction to trauma confer any evolutionary advantage? Please add. -- 77.7.186.186 (talk) 11:52, 2 November 2010 (UTC)

This is a really great question! I'd like to see it answered too.

We get "traumatized" all the time in small ways. Yes people got traumatized in the past, but they were more able to deal with it because it was the status quo. (Not to say damage couldn't occur from it back then too). A lot of trauma likely has to do with how the person interprets the experience after the fact. Today it's considered normal to get extremely alarmed about anything labelled as "traumatizing" (e.g. car accidents, breaking a fingernail), and the cognitive interpretion of "this experience MUST be bad" exaggerates the damage. But is it really damage, or simple a change according to circumstances or experience? Facts such as betrayal by someone trusted or a natural disaster can affect the degree of trauma.

There's a lot of interpretation here. The idea of "psychological trauma" is still largely a intellectual construction (not to say there's no substance to it), and there's still a lot of debate on how to describe it clinically. Maybe someday I'll be able to research this more and add to the article.

Trauma can also be positive, depending on circumstance and the nature of the trauma. It can bring posttraumatic growth. --DanielCD (talk) 15:27, 2 November 2010 (UTC)

Suggested move

The last paragraph in the introduction, "Some theories suggest ... stress of certain events."[3]" should be moved to the "Responses to psychological trauma" section. I don't feel like it really fits with the purpose of the introduction --74.179.30.172 (talk) 04:07, 8 November 2010 (UTC)

Also, the very first sentence describes trauma as being caused by traumatic events. As well, traumatic events are those that cause trauma...--Mouq (talk) 00:44, 14 December 2010 (UTC)

Moral injury: new and necessary topic

this needs breif mention here and needs its own entire page, linked in with Jon Shay, more references, and curative program. Also there are a few books on it recently

I can't start my own page; I am not advanced enough; please help build up this page as I cannot do so alone. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.162.221.82 (talk) 20:43, 17 December 2010 (UTC)

just test — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.146.116.248 (talk) 14:24, 24 March 2013 (UTC)

What would you do if you be in life threatening? mazdameschi (Hassan Amerehh Barcholoee) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.146.116.248 (talk) 15:00, 24 March 2013 (UTC)

Citation and Clarification of treatment

The treatment section mentions "new antidepressants", this description does not contain enough useful information, such as the antidepressant name/category and does not cite any sources. this should be reworded to include this information. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.184.229.170 (talk) 17:12, 30 May 2016 (UTC)

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Hello, all!

I added resources to the external links section of this page given by the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology following the most recent school shooting. I hope this was okay, but if not, please let me know right away in what ways I can change the edit so that it fits within Wikipedia's guidelines.

Thanks! --Rkang101 (talk) 03:58, 16 February 2018 (UTC)

Addition to CBT treatment section

Hello all,

Seeking Safety is a sub-type of CBT used to treat co-occurring trauma and substance use disorder. It's listed separately from the other CBT trauma interventions on the American Psychological Association Division 12 webpage (PE, CPT), which are described separately in this article. I believe it warrants a short description of its own. I will go ahead and add it for now, but feel free to offer any feedback about the appropriateness of this addition.

Thanks! --Alexandrabarkin (talk) 21:37, 26 September 2018 (UTC)

Change to Definition Section

Hello,

The definition of a traumatic event is currently out of date, as it is still using the DSM-IV definition. I will be updating it using the DSM-5. Rachel Ward 3 (talk) 17:39, 29 September 2018 (UTC)

"TAMAR" listed at Redirects for discussion

An editor has asked for a discussion to address the redirect TAMAR. Please participate in the redirect discussion if you wish to do so. Shhhnotsoloud (talk) 18:56, 13 October 2019 (UTC)

Trauma psychology as its own field and topic

• Lockdown is the world's biggest psychological experiment - and we will pay the price — 9 April 2020

All this should surprise no one; insights on the long-term damage of disasters have been accepted in the field of trauma psychology for decades.

The wording in that sentence impressed upon me that trauma psychology, as a field, is an awfully big topic in its own right, and probably much broader in scope than what a page titled psychological trauma is likely to fold into its tent, against the grain of so much else imbued with evocative immediacy.

Perhaps someday its own subpage? Just a quick spitball for eventual consideration. — MaxEnt 21:49, 14 April 2020 (UTC)

Defining trauma

Under the defining trauma header it is stated:

"The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) defines trauma as direct personal experience of an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury; threat to one's physical integrity, witnessing an event that involves the above experience, learning about unexpected or violent death, serious harm, or threat of death, or injury experienced by a family member or close associate. Memories associated with trauma are typically explicit, coherent, and difficult to forget.[24]"

This is incorrect. This is referring to the following excerpt from the DSM-IV-TR's section on PTSD:

"The essential feature of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is the development of characteristic symptoms following exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor involving direct personal experience of an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or other threat to one's physical integrity ; or witnessing an event that involves death, injury , or a threat to the phYSical integ rity o f another person; or learning about unexpected or violent death, serious harm, or threat of death or injury experienced by a family member or other close associate (Criterion AI )."

This is not about defining Trauma, it is about listing the criterion for diagnosing PTSD. Additionally, this definition of PTSD is outdated as well given that the DSM-V simply refers to PTSD as: "The essential feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the development of characteristic symptoms following exposure to one or more traumatic events. Emotional reactions to the traumatic event (e.g., fear, helplessness, horror) are no longer a part of Criterion A." — Preceding unsigned comment added by HelpfulPlanet (talk • contribs) 22:28, 1 December 2020 (UTC)

Thank you for pointing this out! I updated the definition to reflect the DSM-5's take on trauma symptoms. --Sheila Park (talk) 17:56, 26 September 2021 (UTC)

Related article

The article Social Constraints was made a couple days ago. I thought editors here would be interested to know about it. --Xurizuri (talk) 09:51, 14 November 2021 (UTC)

Yeah, that looks interesting. I sometimes find it difficult to contextualize particular psychological concepts. (e.g. how important are social constraints in trauma compared to other factors). I'm afraid that this might be the case here. Talpedia (talk) 09:28, 15 November 2021 (UTC)

Definition section, improving and moving

I think the definition section should be moved to the top and be the first subsection. Is anyone willing to do that, or want to object to me doing that? I will also start making some improvements in that section.ConflictScience (talk) 19:10, 15 January 2023 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Human Cognition SP23

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 20 January 2023 and 15 May 2023. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): AzulB.13 (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by AzulB.13 (talk) 19:22, 3 April 2023 (UTC)

Narrowness

The definition given here of what counts as psychological trauma (and what doesn't!) is much more narrow than on the French article Traumatisme psychologique. There, factors such as harassment, being a victim of alcoholism, poverty, are also listed as traumatic events.

Why isn't it the case here, where such a demarcation is made as "The event must be understood by the affected person as directly threatening the affected person or their loved ones with death, severe bodily injury, or sexual violence"? To me it seems like the most extreme ones, as countless people are permanently scarred from for example complete emotional neglect in early childhood. This demarcation is problematic because someone who didn't get shot or raped might will like their trauma is less valid. Synotia (moan) 11:29, 29 December 2023 (UTC)

@Synotia: I haven't examined the English and French Wikipedia articles in this case, but I can note that on English Wikipedia the content should be based mainly on reliable secondary sources. In general, there can be discrepancies between Wikipedias in different languages because there are different content guidelines and because different sources are available in different languages that may reflect cultural differences. I will leave it to others to determine whether the discrepancy between en-wiki & fr-wiki in this case is due to differences in the available sources, or whether the English article doesn't properly summarize available reliable secondary sources. Also note what Psychological trauma § Society and culture says about the broader use of the term in popular culture. Biogeographist (talk) 16:45, 29 December 2023 (UTC)