Understanding psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Ford, Julián D.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-801288-8.00001-7

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 49 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We found that most refugees in our sample of 85 who showed psychological strain within a German refugee reception center and were referred to a specialized clinic met the criteria for PTSD (81.2%) as well as for depression (88.2%). In line with Ford, Grasso, Elhai, and Courtois (2015), who argued that PTSD among refugees often occurs in a more severe way, the patients with PTSD in this sample showed a higher ETI PTSD score ( M = 37.25) than a sample from Tagay and Senf (2014) consisting of ambulant patients with PTSD who were not refugees ( M = 32.35). From June to September 2015, the refugee reception center hosting our sample became massively overcrowded (Stief, 2015), leading to substandard sheltering: for instance, refugees slept in tents, on the floor, and/or in the corridors.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid depression among refugees: Assessment of a sample from a German refugee reception center

Belz

Özkan

et al. 2017

Transcult Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In 2015, a large number of refugees arrived in Germany, mostly driven to emigrate by devastating circumstances in their countries of origin. Arriving refugees are distributed to reception centers within the German federal states, frequently facing marginal conditions in terms of overcrowding or waiting time of several months until their application for asylum is processed. Most of these refugees underwent numerous traumatizing experiences-both in their country of origin and while fleeing from their country of origin. Furthermore, they faced and will likely continue to face various access barriers to mental health care. In this study, we assessed a sample of 85 refugees from a reception center in Germany selected due to their observed psychological strain. Results showed that the majority suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder, mostly with symptoms of intrusion, hyperarousal, avoidance, and dissociation. Most refugees also suffered from comorbid depression. We discuss implications of these findings for reception services and the need for more preventive psychiatric care.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid depression among refugees: Assessment of a sample from a German refugee reception center

Belz

Özkan

et al. 2017

Transcult Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is the cognitive process that victims make about the attack being unavoidable that is associated with the severity of posttraumatic symptoms and may thus constitute a risk factor. Experiencing increased levels of guilt is very common among survivors of non-consensual sexual violence (Gravelin et al, 2019;Moor & Farchi, 2011) and manifests itself in a feeling of shame, humiliation, and guilt for not having been able to resist, fight, or confront the aggression (Ford et al, 2015), This, in turn, can lead to psychological deterioration later on, as stated by Heidt et al (2005), and hamper the victim's recovery. Understanding that TI is an involuntary reaction can help mitigate feelings of guilt and shame caused by not reacting or not doing enough to prevent sexual violence (Kalaf et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Reality of Tonic Immobility in Victims of Sexual Violence: “I was Paralyzed, I Couldn’t Move”

Laso¹

2023

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Tonic immobility (TI) is a state of temporary, involuntary motor inhibition that occurs in states of intense fear and has been studied among victims of sexual violence. Studies on TI are scarce and mainly focus on rape victims. The present study is a literature review of research that has examined TI in women victims of sexual violence. A database search was carried out using the Preferred data elements for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) method. In order to be included in the analysis, the manuscripts had to deal exclusively with research involving samples of subjects and the study analyzed TI in victims of sexual violence. In all, 11 manuscripts met the above criteria and were included in the review. Research describes that TI is characterized by two factors: fear and immobility. Quantitative research was conclusive in affirming the presence of a state of paralysis and fear in TI. The immobility factor is the determining factor in explaining the victim’s lack of defense or resistance and causes effects such as trembling, physical and mental paralysis, inability to vocalize, and eye closure. In addition, TI has been correlated with long-term negative clinical manifestations as victims are more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. These findings contribute to an understanding of TI in victims of sexual violence. Therefore, legal and care practitioners must be able to recognize TI to understand the victim’s behavior, differentiate it from consent, and to be able to assist in their recovery.

show abstract

“…Being paralysed was more accurately recognised as a self-protective stress reaction outside the volition of the victim [43]. Ford and partners [79] endorsed the assertion, stating that in a severe trauma situation, with no other viable escape option, the body's energies are redirected toward staying alive, hence inactivity. According to [75,76], TI at this point could protect victims from increased injury, force, severity of the attack and could provide a means of escape to victims.…”

Section: Theme 2 Onset Of Tonic Immobility As Self-protection Mechani...mentioning

confidence: 99%

I did not scream. i could not; i was terrified. i just followed them. . .i blocked my mind. then they all raped me: A narrative inquiry on the onset of tonic immobility among women rape victims in Nigeria

Gbahabo,

Duma

2024

PLoS ONE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Tonic immobility (TI) is a common uncontrollable autonomic mammalian response to an extremely fearful situation. It is one of the most immediate devastating consequences of rape and remains poorly understood. While controversies over its definition persist among researchers, this also reflects on the care for and support to victims. The study aimed to explore and describe the onset of TI and the meaning attached to the experience among women raped victims in Nigeria. The study design was the qualitative narrative inquiry approach. Criterion and purposive sampling were conducted across four post-rape care facilities in Lagos, Nigeria, to recruit 13 participants. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide to generate data that were thematically analysed. The findings of the study revealed five themes relating to the onset of TI as follows: the first two focused on the experience of TI: (1) the onset of TI prior to rape due to perceived imminent danger, (2) the onset of TI as a self-protection mechanism from further harm) while the last three relate to the meaning-making of the experience of TI (3) self-loathing as a meaning attached to TI, (4) suicidal ideations as a meaning attached to TI, and (5) divine intervention as a meaning attached to TI. Conclusion: The findings underscore the experiences and meanings that participants attach to TI following rape. There is a strong likelihood that tonic-immobility is not an uncommon experience amongst rape victims, but that in the absence of research, specialized care on the condition, and its associated consequences will haunt many women, affecting their psychological well-being and their entire quality of life. Describing the phenomenon as it is experienced by the participants is critical because understanding the condition is the first step toward effective appropriate management.

show abstract

Understanding psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Cited by 4 publications

References 49 publications

Posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid depression among refugees: Assessment of a sample from a German refugee reception center

Posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid depression among refugees: Assessment of a sample from a German refugee reception center

The Reality of Tonic Immobility in Victims of Sexual Violence: “I was Paralyzed, I Couldn’t Move”

I did not scream. i could not; i was terrified. i just followed them. . .i blocked my mind. then they all raped me: A narrative inquiry on the onset of tonic immobility among women rape victims in Nigeria

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About