The treatment of psychological trauma from the perspective of attachment research

This paper looks at the implications of attachment research for the treatment of psychological trauma. This is particularly important in the field of family therapy given that PTSD both impacts on the immediate family system and can be transmitted down the generations. After an initial review of current research in the field, the paper focuses on the assessment and treatment of PTSD, emphasizing the importance of integrating techniques from different models that enable clients to modulate their emotions as part of the therapeutic process. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of support and supervision for the therapists in order to avoid secondary traumatization.     

A technique for the nonmetric analysis of paired comparisons of psychological intervals

A nonmetric coordinate adjustment technique is developed which determines scale values for objects whose interobject intervals (differences in subjective value) have been directly compared. In Monte Carlo simulations, the degree of metric determinancy of the scale values is shown to be quite high even when the amount of error is relatively high. This robustness under high-error conditions permitted the analysis of individual subject data in experiments on the direct comparison of loudness differences and loudness ratios where only one judgment per interval comparison was obtained per subject.This research was supported by a grant from the National Research Council of Canada.     

Patterns of recovery from trauma: the use of intraindividual analysis

Patterns of recovery from sexual and nonsexual assault were examined. Two studies containing data from female victims of these assaults were analyzed. In Study 1, victims (N = 101) underwent 12 weekly assessments with measures of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and state anxiety. In Study 2, victims (N = 108) underwent monthly assessments on the same measures. The authors examined the effects of type of trauma and time of peak reaction on long-term recovery using intraindividual analysis of change. In both studies, initial and peak reactions of rape victims were more severe than were those of nonsexual assault victims on all measures of psychopathology. Victims with delayed peak reaction exhibited more severe pathology at the final assessment than did victims with early peak reaction. Results of Study 2 indicated a slower recovery rate from sexual than nonsexual assault; in Study 1 a similar pattern of recovery emerged. The advantages of an individual-focused, longitudinal approach to recovery from a trauma are discussed.     

Vicarious trauma: The psychological impact of working with survivors of trauma for South African psychologists

Traumatic events are highly prevalent in South African society and psychologists who work with survivors of trauma have been identified as particularly at risk of being adversely affected by their work, and experiencing vicarious trauma. This study aimed to explore the experiences of a group of South African psychologists who work predominantly with trauma survivors. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with six psychologists (females = 67%). The predominant type of trauma encountered by participants in clinical practice was interpersonal trauma in the form of physical and sexual abuse (83%). Data were analysed using thematic analysis. All participants reported symptoms of vicarious trauma including disruption in cognitive schemas, symptoms characteristic of post-traumatic stress disorder, and somatic symptoms. Participants also reported vicarious post-traumatic growth including an enhanced sense of interpersonal connectedness and positive changes in their philosophy of life and self-perceptions. The findings serve to sensitise psychologists to the impact of working with trauma survivors so as to enhance the efficiency of psychological service delivery to traumatised populations.     

Assessment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

In spite of their prevalence and persistence, why are behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia difficult for clinicians to assess and manage? This paper provides an overview of the methodological challenges encountered in measuring behavioral disturbances of dementia. Specifically, conceptual constructs of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, the strengths and weaknesses of the currently existing rating instruments, analytic methodologies, and the utility of technological devices are outlined in the service of formulating future directions in behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia assessment research.     

A systems view of psychological trauma: Developing post-traumatic stress response paradigms

This article traces the development of traumatic stress paradigms within the context of emerging psychological and organizational theories. It traces the evolution of the systems view of trauma from an early stimulus-response model using a biological perspective through the development of cybernetic, information-processing to the field systems perspectives of trauma. This article concludes by examining the evolutionary and contextualist paradigms of trauma theory and its value to the psychotherapist working with trauma victims.     

Shedding light on the psychological and behavioral determinants of travel mode choice: A meta-analysis

Mobility represents a relevant topic from the standpoint of environmental degradation, health-related consequences and social inclusion. Since private mobility is responsible for the greatest share of polluting emissions, it is necessary to gain deeper understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the choice of individuals to use either cars or alternative, environment-friendly transport modes. A meta-analysis on 58 primary studies is conducted to synthesize evidence on the determinants of travel mode choice, as regards both behavioral intentions and actual behaviors. Results suggest that, besides intentions, habits and past use represent the most relevant predictor, followed by constructs referring to the Theory of Planned Behavior framework. Environmental variables, on the other hand, play a relevant role in shaping behavioral intentions while their effect on actual behaviors is negligible, so that a deep intention behavior gap emerges. A moderator analysis is performed to explain the high heterogeneity in the results. Behaviors’ operationalization and measurement emerges as the moderator affecting heterogeneity of outcomes the most; trip purpose, sample type and year of the study also show a moderate effect on heterogeneity, while location does not appear to be a relevant moderator.     

Aesthetic package design: A behavioral,neural, and psychological investigation

In four experiments, this research sheds light on aesthetic experiences by rigorously investigating behavioral, neural, and psychological properties of package design. We find that aesthetic packages significantly increase the reaction time of consumers' choice responses; that they are chosen over products with well-known brands in standardized packages, despite higher prices; and that they result in increased activation in the nucleus accumbens and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, according to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The results suggest that reward value plays an important role in aesthetic product experiences. Further, a closer look at psychometric and neuroimaging data finds that a paper-and-pencil measure of affective product involvement correlates with aesthetic product experiences in the brain. Implications for future aesthetics research, package designers, and product managers are discussed.     

Childhood trauma and psychosis: Review of the evidence and directions for psychological interventions

There is controversy over whether childhood trauma (CT) is a causal risk factor for psychosis. The aim of this study was to provide psychologists with a brief overview of the research into relationship between childhood trauma and psychosis and directions for psychological interventions. It details six of the highest quality studies in the area and tentatively concludes from these that there is evidence for a relationship between CT and psychosis. Hallucinations and delusions have been implicated as important factors in the relationship between CT and psychotic disorder and these are discussed, along with post‐traumatic intrusions and schemas, which have been conceptualised as part of the psychological mechanisms whereby CT confers a risk for psychosis. The development of psychological interventions for people with psychosis who have experienced CT is in its infancy but has been based on evidence‐based cognitive behavioural interventions in psychosis and post‐traumatic stress disorder. A formulation‐based approach is described in this paper, along with a case study.     

Theoretical approaches to psychological trauma: Implications for research and practice

In recent years, a range of counselling and psychotherapy interventions have been developed in work with clients and patients suffering from the psychological effects of trauma. This paper outlines various theoretical models of psychological trauma, selected because they can specifically encompass both the external aetiology (i.e. the traumatic event) and also explain (to a greater or lesser extent) the enormous range of reactions to that event. These models are critically discussed in terms of their implications for counselling practice, and as guides to further research. Examples are given of ways in which the author has drawn on different theoretical frameworks to inform her own therapeutic practice in work with people experiencing post‐traumatic stress disorder.     

Patient attributions for cardiac events: predictors of physical and psychological recovery

This study examined cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients' causal attributions for their cardiac events, and used those attributions as predictors of cross‐sectional and prospective health status. Data were collected from 163 participants at the beginning and end of their CR programs. Results showed that patients' attributions can be categorized into controllable ones that are behavioral in nature, uncontrollable ones that are biological in nature, and a separate category for stress‐related causes. Findings showed that stress attributions at the beginning of CR were associated with engaging in healthy behaviors in the last month of CR, which, in turn, were positively associated with metabolic equivalence levels at the end of CR. Results imply a motivational component to believing that cardiac events are caused by stress.     

Information loss: the primary psychological trauma of the loss of vision.

A psychology of blindness is proposed that contends that information loss is the most critical trauma of the loss of vision. The magnitude of information loss is emphasized with respect to vision as the primary sensory modality for obtaining information. Further, the vital role of access to information in human development and the tendency to seek information to cope with stressful circumstances are addressed. Implications for rehabilitation of blind persons are discussed.     

Physiological, psychological and behavioral consequences of activating autobiographical memories

Activating an autobiographical memory for a specific childhood event can have immediate and robust physiological, psychological, and behavioral consequences. The target behavior was public speaking, a vital skill about which many people are socially anxious. In this study, it was suggested to subjects that they had a positive public speaking experience in early childhood; they then thought about and retrieved details of this true childhood memory. Compared to a control condition in which a different suggestion was made, subjects in the treatment group exhibited superior public speaking performance on the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Further, physiological measures of cortisol and a self-report measure of anxiety (STAI-S) reflected a significantly smaller increase in anxiety from before to after the TSST in the treatment than control condition. Activating autobiographical memory for an event increases the accessibility of that memory and consequently affects performance on related behaviors.     

大学生“知恩图报”的心理反应特点

以52名大学生为被试,在真实的游戏情境中设定施恩与受恩的情形,考察个体是否会“知恩图报”。结果发现：受恩的被试具有一定的感恩意识,但比较薄弱;感恩情绪总体上是一种积极的心理体验过程,并且随着报恩行为的发生,个体的这种正性情绪会相对增强;受恩被试具有明显的感恩回报行为,但回报值低于所接受的恩惠值。说明“知恩图报”是以保护自身利益为前提的有限回馈,其实质很可能是基于亏欠而产生的一种偿还义务。