Positive and Negative Changes Following Vicarious Exposure to the September 11 Terrorist Attacks

The negative effects of vicarious traumatic exposure are well known. However, less is known about potential positive changes following vicarious exposure. Respondents living in Britain (n = 108) were surveyed about their vicarious exposure to the terrorist attacks of September 11. They also completed measures of their perceptions of the events of September 11, and positive (valuing friends and family more) and negative changes (loss of meaning, greater anxiety). Results revealed that respondents who perceived the terrorist attacks to be an attack on their own values and beliefs, or the work of religious fanatics, were more likely to report positive changes. Negative and positive psychological changes were positively associated.     

Forgiveness and rumination: a cross‐cultural perspective comparing India and the US

Forgiveness is a key component of the tenets of religions across the globe. However, it is only recently that scientific research on health has focused on forgiveness as an important component of well‐being. Research in the West has indicated that forgiveness is associated with increases in physical health and well‐being, and that rumination may mediate the relationship between forgiveness and health. However, little is known about the relationship between forgiveness, rumination, and health in non‐Western populations such as India. The purpose of the current study was to measure forgiveness, rumination, stress, and physical health in Indian college students, and compare their responses to that of a US sample. Participants were 188 college students (92 males and 96 females) from Mumbai, India. Results indicated that lower levels of forgiveness predicted increased rumination and stress, but not physical symptoms. Similar to data in the US, rumination mediated the relationship between forgiveness and stress. There were no significant differences in forgiveness, rumination, or stress between the Indian and US samples. Results suggest the universality of these variables across cultures. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Violence,trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder among women drug users

In order to examine the association between the experience of violent events, trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder among women drug users, 105 women in treatment for addictive disorders were interviewed. One hundred four of the study participants reported trauma in 1 or more of 14 categories of traumatic events, 59% of whom reported symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder. Among those with PTSD, 97% reported one or more violent traumas as compared with 73% of those without PTSD. The likelihood of PTSD was strongly associated with the number of violent traumas reported by a woman. Women in recovery from drug addiction are likely to have a history of violent trauma and are at high risk for post-traumatic stress disorder. Screening for PTSD among women with an addictive disorder should become part of the diagnostic and treatment routine.     

射线损伤对睾丸Claudin-11 mRNA表达的影响

目的:Claudin-11为支持细胞紧密连接的组分,在构建血睾屏障及维持生精上皮空间构象中呈现重要作用。本研究拟通过射线局部照射致睾丸氧化应激,观察Claudin-11转录水平变化,探讨氧化应激损伤精子发生的作用机制。方法:48只雄性昆明小鼠随机分配至A、B、C、D 4组,每组12只,A组空白对照,B、C、D 3组分别以2、6、10 Gy剂量60Co-γ射线局部照射实验动物下腹部1次,于4周后处死,测定实验小鼠体重及双睾丸重量;HE染色观察睾丸组织学变化;酶联免疫法检测血清性激素水平;实时荧光PCR监测睾丸组织内抑制素βB及Claudin-11转录水平变化。结果:不同剂量射线致睾丸氧化应激损伤后睾丸重量,A组为(182.9±8.43)mg,B组为(129.4±10.81)mg,C组为(87.5±16.83)mg,D组为(56.1±12.36)mg,呈下降趋势,与A组相比,差异有显著性(P<0.05);睾丸指数A组为(4.28±0.31)mg/g,B组为(3.39±0.57)mg/g,C组为(2.46±0.46)mg/g,D组为(1.63±0.44)mg/g,下降更为明显,与A组相比,差异有显著性(P<0.01);组织学分析示,与A组相比,受射线照射3组生精小管分化指数(TDI)下降明显(P<0.01),生精小管直径减小,生精上皮高度显著降低并层次紊乱。血清FSH,A组为(5.77±1.62)IU/L,B组为(6.74±1.95)IU/L,C组为(8.41±2.44)IU/L,D组为(10.93±3.16)IU/L,逐渐升高,D组较A组升高1.9倍。伴随照射睾丸射线剂量增加,组织内抑制素βB mRNA含量下降,Clau-din11转录水平呈现增高趋势,C、D两组Claudin-11 mRNA水平高于正常对照A组(P均<0.01)。结论:射线局部照射致睾丸氧化应激,组织内抑制素βB mRNA降低、血清FSH升高,支持细胞合成及分泌功能受损;同时,睾丸组织Claudin-11表达量则增加。增加的紧密连接组分同升高的FSH致使血睾屏障重建周期延长,生精上皮内处于减数分裂的精母细胞数量减少,导致不育发生。     

Secondary traumatic stress and vicarious trauma: a validational study

Vicarious trauma (VT) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) or compassion fatigue both describe effects of working with traumatized persons on therapists. Despite conceptual similarities, their emphases differ: cognitive schemas vs. posttraumatic symptoms and burnout, respectively. The TSI Belief Scale (TSI-BSL) measures VT; the Compassion Fatigue Self-Test (CFST) for Psychotherapists measures STS. Neither has substantial psychometric evidence yet, nor has their association been studied. Results for 99 sexual assault and domestic violence counselors show concurrent validity between TSI-BSL and CFST, moderate convergence with burnout but useful discrimination, and strong convergence with general distress, but adequate independent shared variance. Counselors with interpersonal trauma histories scored higher on CFST, but not TSI-BSL or burnout, consistent with the CFST's emphasis on trauma symptomatology.     

The moderating effects of stress and rumination on depressive symptoms in women and men

Although there is an abundance of research linking stress and rumination to depression in women, little is known with respect to the role stress plays in the relationship between rumination and depression. Moreover, the role of stress in the rumination–depression relationship has not been previously investigated separately in women. In the present study, 301 undergraduate women and 109 undergraduate men were administered a questionnaire battery to assess their degrees of stress, depressive symptoms and ruminative tendencies. Individually, both stress and rumination scores were found to account for a large proportion of variance in depressive symptom scores. The interaction of stress and rumination also accounted for a significant proportion of this variance, suggesting a significant moderating effect of stress on the rumination–depressive symptom relationship in women and men. Furthermore, women and men with the highest degrees of stress demonstrated the strongest rumination–depressive symptom relationship. However, low‐stress women and low‐stress men demonstrated divergent patterns of relationships. The alternative model of rumination as a moderator of the stress–depression relationship likewise supported divergent relationships between low‐rumination women and low‐rumination men in the relationship between stress and depression. The implications of these findings regarding vulnerability to depressive symptoms are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder following major trauma

Background: Post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common sequel to physical trauma, but there is disagreement regarding the predictors of this condition. This study aims to examine the role of physical, psychosocial and compensation‐related factors in the development of PTSD following major trauma. Methods: Participants were consecutive adult patients presenting to one major trauma centre with major trauma (Injury Severity Score 16 or higher). Baseline characteristics and clinical data were obtained from the hospital trauma database. The presence of PTSD (as measured by the PTSD Checklist, civilian version) and additional data were obtained from a questionnaire mailed to patients between 1 and 6 years after the injury. Multiple linear regression was used to identify significant independent associations with PTSD. Results: Among 355 patients (61.0% response fraction), 129 (36.3%, 95% confidence interval 43.2–53.2%) were classed as having PTSD. Symptoms of PTSD were not significantly related to measures of injury severity, the time since the injury, education level, household income or employment status at the time of injury. PTSD was significantly associated with younger age (P < 0.0001), the presence of chronic illnesses (P < 0.0001), unemployment at the time of follow up (P < 0.0001), use of a lawyer (P < 0.0001), blaming others for the injury (P = 0.003) and having an unsettled compensation claim (P = 0.007). Conclusion: Post‐traumatic stress disorder after major trauma was not related to measures of injury severity, but was related to other factors, such as blaming others for the accident and the processes involved in claiming compensation.     

War-related trauma and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder among adult Kosovar refugees

Since 1999, almost 16,000 Kosovar refugees have entered the United States. Few studies have investigated trauma and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in this population. We conducted a caseworker-assisted survey of 129 Kosovar refugees (aged 18 to 79 years, 55% male). Of these individuals, 78 (60.5%) showed the likely presence of PTSD. The mean number of war-related traumatic events reported was 15 (SD = 4.5). Higher PTSD scores were associated with more traumatic events and female gender.     

Resources for managing trauma in rural New South Wales, Australia

BACKGROUND: Trauma bypass is not always appropriate in the management of rural trauma because of the large distances and travel times. Rural hospitals in New South Wales, Australia are an essential component of the statewide integrated trauma system. The present study profiles the trauma resources of base hospitals in rural New South Wales. METHODS: A structured questionnaire, addressed to the 'Director, Emergency Department' was distributed to all rural base hospitals in New South Wales. Follow-up telephone interviews were administered to complete data collection. RESULTS: Fourteen hospitals were identified. General and orthopaedic surgeons provided trauma care in all hospitals. Forty-three per cent of hospitals had resident subspecialty surgeons. Fifty per cent of hospitals had a formal hospital trauma team. In the remaining hospitals, the most common reason (86%) stated for the absence of a formal trauma team was a lack of personnel to provide 24 h immediate response to all trauma presentations. Seventy-one per cent of hospitals are staffed by a single doctor after hours. All hospitals had 24 h access to plain radiography and blood products. 86% had 24 h access to ultrasound and computed tomography, although always on an 'on-call' basis after hours. All hospitals had the capability to maintain ventilated patients, averaging two ventilated beds per hospital. An average of two trauma patients per hospital per month is transferred to a larger institution. Sixty-four per cent of hospitals participated in a trauma retrievals for their surrounding areas. Seventy-one per cent of hospitals engaged in quality assurance activities regarding trauma outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Formal responses to major trauma in rural base hospitals in New South Wales are often restricted by a lack of specialist medical personnel. Nevertheless, the majority of hospitals have the resources to manage major trauma.     

New trends in the management of colonic trauma

BACKGROUND: The management of colon trauma seems to have swung from the "diversion dogma" to a more liberal use of primary repair. However, there are still debatable issues, regarding the management of destructive injuries of the left colon. METHODS: A review of the current literature on the management of colon trauma was performed using PubMed, with secondary references obtained from key articles. CONCLUSION: There is strong evidence from prospective randomised trials that the vast majority of colonic injuries can be safely managed by primary repair. It seems, however, that there is a limited role for colostomy, particularly in high-risk patients with destructive injuries of the left colon. The final decision should be based on available scientific evidence in combination with personal experience and clinical judgement on the given patient.     

Factor structure of posttraumatic stress among Western New York undergraduates following the September 11th terrorist attack on the World Trade Center

The structure of posttraumatic stress is of both theoretical and clinical interest. In the present study, seven models of posttraumatic stress were compared using confirmatory factor analysis. A sample of 528 Western New York undergraduate students was assessed 1 and 3 months after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. At the Month 1 assessment, the current three-factor Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) model, which consists of Intrusions, Avoidance/Numbing, and Hyperarousal, did not provide a good fit to the data; however, a four-factor model consisting of factors labeled Intrusions, Avoidance, Dysphoria, and Hyperarousal did fit the data well and provided better fit than the three-factor model and other competing models. Importantly, Dysphoria spans symptoms from the traditional DSM Numbing and Hyperarousal clusters. The four-factor model continued to fit the data well at Month 3. These findings parallel the results of earlier studies which suggest that a four-factor model better reflects the nature of posttraumatic stress than do simpler models, including the DSM. The present work is consistent with a dimensional model of stress responses and calls for further longitudinal work in this area.     

Brief interventions for secondary trauma: review and recommendations

Recent literature in the area of trauma has highlighted the potential for interventions to exacerbate the trauma reaction. The general rule of ‘do no harm’ should apply not only to professionals but volunteers alike. This paper reviews the literature on brief interventions for people who have been exposed to trauma at varying levels. The parameters of a single session intervention and the skill of volunteers are considered in recommending a protocol for intervention. We propose an ‘orienting’ framework to intervention that emphasizes support, normalization and self‐help strategies. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Erythropoietin improves oxidative stress following spinal cord trauma in rats

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a very destructive process for both patients and society. Lipid peroxidation is the main cause of the further secondary damage which starts after mechanical destruction of tissues. Recent studies have shown that erythropoietin (EPO) has neuroprotective properties. In this study, we aimed to see the effect of EPO treatment after spinal cord injury on the oxidant and anti-oxidant enzyme systems and the relationship with the N-methyl-d-Aspartate (NMDA) blockage. Spinal cord injury was produced by epidural compression with a cerebral vascular clip that has a closing force of 40 g for 30 s after a limited multilevel laminectomy (T9-11). Experiment was done in 5 groups: Group1: Sham-operated untraumatised, Group 2: SCI untreated, Group 3: 150 i.u./kg EPO injected i.p. at the end of the first hour following the trauma. Group 4: NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine (100 mg/kg) i.p. Group 5: EPO + ketamine i.p. The experiments were finished after 12 h of the trauma. The spinal cords were excised for biochemical examinations.Anti-oxidant enzymes; catalase and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels increased and lipid peroxidation product, malonyldialdehyde (MDA) level decreased in EPO treated group when compared to the other groups. TNF-α levels decreased in EPO treated group. Application of ketamine before EPO treatment decreased effects of EPO. In conclusion, our results suggest that 150 i.u./kg i.p. EPO, a therapeutic dose in anaemic patients, applied after 1 h of spinal cord injury significantly attenuated the oxidative damage of spinal cord injuries in rats. This activity is abolished via ketamine pretreatment.     

A comparison of severely injured trauma patients admitted to level 1 trauma centres in Queensland and Germany

Background: The allocation of a trauma network in Queensland is still in the developmental phase. In a search for indicators to improve trauma care both locally as state‐wide, a study was carried out comparing trauma patients in Queensland to trauma patients in Germany, a country with 82.4 million inhabitants and a well‐established trauma system. Methods: Trauma patients ≥15 years of age, with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 16 admitted to the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) and to the 59 German hospitals participating in the Trauma Registry of the German Society for Trauma Surgery (DGU‐G) during the year 2005 were retrospectively identified and analysed. Results: Both cohorts are comparable when it comes to demographics and injury mechanism, but differ significantly in other important aspects. Striking is the low number of primary admitted patients in the PAH cohort: 58% versus 83% in the DGU‐G cohort. PAH patients were less physiologically deranged and less severely injured: ISS 25.2 ± 9.9 versus 29.9 ± 13.1 (P < 0.001). Subsequently, they less often needed surgery (61% versus 79%), ICU admission (49% versus 92%) and had a lower mortality: 9.8% versus 17.9% of the DGU‐G cohort. Conclusions: Relevant differences were the low number of primary admissions, the lesser severity of injuries, and the low mortality of the patients treated at the PAH. These differences are likely to be interrelated and Queensland's size and suboptimal organization of trauma care may have played an important role.     

Changes in religious beliefs following trauma

Information processing theorists propose that traumatic events can lead to disruptions in the processing of information and to changes in beliefs. This study examined the relationships among trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and religious beliefs. Participants included 120 individuals from community and clinical samples who participated in the DSM-IV Field Trial Study on PTSD. Results indicated that the PTSD group was more likely to report changes in religious beliefs following the first/only traumatic event, generally becoming less religious. PTSD status was not related to change in religious beliefs following the most recent event. Intrinsic religiosity was related to multiple victimization, but not PTSD. Results are discussed in terms of understanding the function of religiosity in participants' lives and future directions for research.     

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目的探讨腹部闭合性损伤延迟性肠坏死的诊断与治疗。方法回顾性分析2000年1月至2008年1月第二军医大学附属长海医院普外科治疗415例腹部闭合性损伤的临床资料,其中11例(2.65%)发生延迟性肠坏死,均于明确诊断后行手术治疗。结果 8例行一期肠段切除吻合术,3例因腹腔污染严重无法行一期确定性手术,先施行肠造口术,6个月后再行二期肠吻合术。11例全部治愈,其中2例发生肠瘘,经积极治疗后痊愈。结论腹部闭合性损伤致延迟性肠坏死临床症状不典型,易导致漏诊或延迟处理,病死率高,临床医生应严密动态观察,CT的正确诊断率较高,早期剖腹探查有利于提高治疗效果。