Using stressful films to analyze risk factors for PTSD in analogue experimental studies – which film works best?

Abstract

To understand mental disorders, analogue paradigms provide an indispensable contribution. In posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the stressful film paradigm is a frequently used analogue approach: Films depicting traumatic events are shown to non-clinical participants in order to elicit stress responses analogue to responses to traumatic events in real life. Previous studies used a large variety of films, which is problematic with regard to the comparability of results. The main goal of this study was to identify a film clip that (a) consistently provokes stress reactions and (b) provokes reactions that are as similar as possible to traumatic stress.

We randomly exposed 105 male and female participants to one of four stressful films, differing, e.g., in content and origin. Intrusive memories of the film, reported immediately after the film and during a diary phase of three days, as well as distress, heart rate, and several mood states were measured. A film clip depicting rape elicited the most consistent reactions that were characterized by a higher heart rate, more distress and more intrusive memories, compared to the other three clips. Intrusive memories across all films were especially related to an increase in heart rate and disgust in response to the film.     

An Ecological Analysis of Batterer Intervention Program Standards

Summary

Many states and local jurisdictions have drafted and implemented standards for batterer intervention programs. This article first presents a review of the arguments for and against the current standards. The author argues that the extant empirical research on batterer intervention is, at best, a limited source of knowledge for setting standards. The author then uses Bronfenbrenner's (1972, 1975) ecological framework to analyze existing standards, and to guide recommendations for future research on batterer intervention.     

Twenty-Five Years of Change in Working with Partner Abusers—Part I: Observations from the Trenches About Community and System-Level Changes

The past 2 ½ decades have witnessed explosive growth in research and practice in the area of intimate partner violence, especially regarding perpetrators. The author reflects on his observations of key community and systemic developments in the field of research and treatment with batterers. The author examines systemic changes that have facilitated growth in the field and examines related issues and controversies. The author calls for continued development of an empirical base to guide both theory development and practice standards. The author also calls for openness to change within the field so that new developments will lead to appropriate dialogue and debate, increased dissemination and translation of new research findings into formats that are useful to clinicians, and accountability and change in abusers.     

Developing Guidelines for Domestic Violence Offender Programs

Summary

This article reviews research on domestic violence that can help inform the development of guidelines for programs for men who batter. It also illustrates some successes and problems in other fields that might be instructive for the domestic violence field. Firm conclusions about “best practice” guidelines for intervention seem to be premature because of flaws in evaluation studies. In addition, there is growing evidence of variability among men who batter on dimensions such as severity of violence, childhood traumas, generality of violence and personality traits. Programs also need to be able to respond to motivational and cultural difference among abusers. Existence of variability implies the need for multiple forms of interventions.     

ASSESSMENT: RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

Abstract

The authors present a comprehensive assessment protocol for court-mandated perpetrators of domestic violence. Because of the inherent risk of harm to others present in the context of domestic violence treatment, the authors present an assessment process with a clear set of goals and expressed expectations. These goals help to set the context of treatment from the onset and serve as a continual frame of reference that both therapist and patient will refer to throughout the treatment process. The authors discuss the following assessment issue: informed consent and disclosure; confidentiality; patient rapport; patient motivation for treatment; patients' suitability for treatment; differential diagnosis; the assessment of violence and social history; patients' risk for further violence and other acting-out; behavioral interventions for violence control; developing treatment plans.     

Making the Invisible Victims of Violence Against Women Visible Through University/Community Partnerships

Summary

The absence of scientifically credible information about the nature and extent of children exposed to abuse of their mothers is an impediment to effective intervention and prevention efforts. This article proposes a research agenda based upon guiding principles of a public health surveillance model. Three major principles are presented and applied to this social problem. Additionally, a concrete example of the application of these principles is drawn from an ongoing university/community partnership in Philadelphia.     

Posttraumatic Response and Children Exposed to Parental Violence

Summary

In this article some of the literature on children's responses to natural and person-created trauma are discussed. In addition, data relevant to children's posttraumatic response as a result of exposure to interparental violence are presented. Using a factor analytic procedure, the study attempted to examine how the DSM-IV symptom clusters for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder come together for this sample of children. General suggestions are made regarding possible intervention with exposed children experiencing posttraumatic symptoms.     

An Uphill Climb

Abstract

The Community Partnership Team (CPT) was created to more effectively address the problems of child sexual victimization and domestic violence in the rural, northeast corner of Connecticut. A multi-disciplinary team was formed to improve collaboration between agencies serving victims of violence. Observations of meetings and confidential interviews suggested that most participants felt quite positively about the process; however, serious conflicts emerged between agencies serving different types of victims. Results indicated that it is important to identify barriers to collaboration, to recognize and use differences to build relationships across agencies, and to maintain a formal mechanism for resolving conflict.     

Development of an Abuse Screening Tool for Women with Disabilities

Abstract

Women with disabilities are at increased risk for violence, including forms of abuse that can be experienced by all women as well as forms unique to women with disabilities, such as abuse by personal assistants. The purpose of this study was to develop an abuse-screening tool unique to women with disabilities. The tool, which was based on previous research, was field-tested with 47 women who experienced physical and/or cognitive disabilities. Final refinement of the tool's wording and formatting was accomplished through focus groups and individual interviews. Women with disabilities were receptive to participating in screening, which facilitated the identification of abuse and risk factors. Recommendations for abuse screening and risk assessment with women who have disabilities are presented.     

Attributions for Different Types of Traumatic Events and Post-Traumatic Stress Among Women

This study investigated the relationship of attributions to post-traumatic stress symptoms among women exposed to different types of traumatic events. Participants were 424 female undergraduates who previously experienced a serious accident, natural disaster, child abuse, or adult interpersonal violence. Path analysis indicated a significant indirect pathway from event type to post-traumatic stress through global attributions. Interpersonal-violence survivors exhibited the highest levels of global attributions and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Regression analyses revealed significant interactions between event type and attributions in predicting post-traumatic stress. Stable attributions were associated with increased symptoms in sexual-assault survivors and decreased symptoms in natural-disaster survivors. These findings have implications for improving cognitive interventions for survivors of different types of traumatic events.