35 posts · 25,121 views
A blog about traumatic exposure, posttraumatic stress, and recovery. With a particular focus on children.
Eva Alisic
35 posts
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- May 9, 2013
- 10:41 AM
- 72 views
The role of siblings in children’s mental health
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
When you were young(er), did you also engage in personality predictions with your peers based on order in the family? For example, that the oldest of three siblings would be the bossiest and the youngest the most spoiled? Almost everyone (90% of us) have one or more siblings. And we know they play an important role in our lives. Scientists have now combined international research examining siblings’ role in children’s mental health. ... Read more »
Buist KL, Deković M, & Prinzie P. (2013) Sibling relationship quality and psychopathology of children and adolescents: a meta-analysis. Clinical psychology review, 33(1), 97-106. PMID: 23159327
- February 19, 2013
- 05:24 AM
- 185 views
Can very young children do cognitive-behavioral therapy?
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
Children younger than seven years of age obviously do not have the mature cognitive skills for causal reasoning, perspective taking, self-reflection, verbal expression, or autobiographical memory that would make cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) work smoothly. ... Read more »
Scheeringa, M., Weems, C., Cohen, J., Amaya-Jackson, L., & Guthrie, D. (2011) Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in three-through six year-old children: a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 52(8), 853-860. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02354.x
- February 2, 2013
- 06:37 AM
- 136 views
Imagery rehearsal therapy for post-trauma nightmares
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
Sleep problems are a central component of posttraumatic stress, both in children and adults, with 72% experiencing nightmares. Imagery rehearsal (IR) therapy has a cognitive behavioral background and is used more and more to overcome sleep problems after trauma. How effective is IR? ... Read more »
Casement MD, & Swanson LM. (2012) A meta-analysis of imagery rehearsal for post-trauma nightmares: effects on nightmare frequency, sleep quality, and posttraumatic stress. Clinical psychology review, 566-74. PMID: 22819998
- January 14, 2013
- 02:25 AM
- 124 views
Working in bushfire affected areas: Nurses’ experiences
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
Australia has been struck by numerous bushfires in the past few weeks and will be seeing many more as the peak of the bushfire season is yet to come. How do professionals experience working in bushfire situations? ... Read more »
Ranse, J., & Lenson, S. (2012) Beyond a clinical role: Nurses were psychosocial supporters, coordinators and problem solvers in the Black Saturday and Victorian bushfires in 2009. Australasian Emergency Nursing Journal, 156-163. DOI: 10.1016/j.aenj.2012.05.001
- December 10, 2012
- 06:22 AM
- 234 views
The Physical Health Consequences of Posttraumatic Stress
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
The relationship between PTSD and co-occurring mental health conditions — such as depression, substance use, and general anxiety — has received much attention in the literature. However, it is equally important to consider the impact of PTSD on physical health functioning. Given the biological alterations associated with PTSD, individuals with this disorder may be vulnerable to the development of, or worsening of, certain physical health conditions.... Read more »
Pacella, M., Hruska, B., & Delahanty, D. (2012) The physical health consequences of PTSD and PTSD symptoms: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2012.08.004
- November 6, 2012
- 12:26 AM
- 225 views
Helping children after Hurricane Sandy and other disasters
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
How do children recover from Hurricane Sandy? And how can we help them? Here are some lessons learned from a study with 277 children after Hurricane Ike. ... Read more »
Lai BS, La Greca AM, Auslander BA, & Short MB. (2012) Children's symptoms of posttraumatic stress and depression after a natural disaster: Comorbidity and risk factors. Journal of affective disorders. PMID: 22974469
- August 31, 2012
- 08:32 AM
- 342 views
The consequences of fatal domestic violence for children
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
A man kills his wife in a moment of rage and flees the house while the children are still with their mother. A mother stabs her husband to death after years of domestic violence. These stories are barely imaginable but too often they happen in reality.... Read more »
Alisic, E.,, Van Schaijk, M.,, Groot, A.,, & Strijker-Kersten, H.A. (2012) Gevolgen van partnerdoding voor kinderen. Kind en Adolescent Praktijk, 142-144. info:/
- August 25, 2012
- 12:53 PM
- 316 views
Child in the shadowlands
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
The topic of this blogpost made the headlines in a shocking way this week when US Republican Todd Akin stated that women rarely get pregnant from rape because “the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”
Akin’s medieval assertions coincided with the publication of an essay in the Lancet that went in the very opposite direction...... Read more »
Van Ee E, & Kleber RJ. (2012) Child in the shadowlands. Lancet, 380(9842), 642-3. PMID: 22908379
- August 14, 2012
- 05:26 PM
- 286 views
8 Guiding Principles for Peer Support Programs in High-Risk Organizations
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
Emergency services and other high-risk organizations use peer support to help maintain the health of their people. A good idea?... Read more »
Creamer MC, Varker T, Bisson J, & et al. (2012) Guidelines for peer support in high-risk organizations: an international consensus study using the Delphi method. Journal of traumatic stress, 25(2), 134-41. PMID: 22522726
- August 8, 2012
- 11:40 AM
- 319 views
Does self-help treatment for anxiety disorders work?
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
About 30% of us have an anxiety disorder at some point in our life... Most people never receive treatment. Self-help interventions may provide a solution but do these interventions work?... Read more »
Haug T, Nordgreen T, Öst LG, & Havik OE. (2012) Self-help treatment of anxiety disorders: a meta-analysis and meta-regression of effects and potential moderators. Clinical psychology review, 32(5), 425-45. PMID: 22681915
- July 24, 2012
- 08:08 AM
- 354 views
Does being optimistic help you recover from trauma?
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
Last week, we had every reason to be shocked again about how cruel our world can be. The shooting in Aurora, Colorado, was in bizarre contrast with the fun evening that the movie goers expected to have. There was the one-year anniversary of Breivik’s attack in Norway. Our TVs screened ongoing, severe violence in Syria and other parts of the world. Not much reason to be optimistic, it seems.
However, the personality factor ‘optimism’ in itself may be an important asset when c........ Read more »
Hobfoll SE, Watson P, Bell CC, Bryant RA, Brymer MJ, Friedman MJ, Friedman M, Gersons BP, de Jong JT, Layne CM.... (2007) Five essential elements of immediate and mid-term mass trauma intervention: empirical evidence. Psychiatry, 70(4), 283. PMID: 18181708
Segovia, F., Moore,J.L., Linnville,S.E., Hoyt, R.E., & Hain, R.E. (2012) Optimism predicts resilience in repatriated prisoners of war: A 37-year longitudinal study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 330-336. DOI: 10.1002/jts.21691
- June 14, 2012
- 05:46 AM
- 353 views
A Quarter of Cases of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Is With Delayed Onset
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
According to the current edition of the DSM, delayed Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) must be diagnosed in individuals fulfilling criteria for PTSD if the onset of symptoms is at least 6 months after the trauma. The prevalence of delayed PTSD has for a long time remained unclear, and only few studies have examined factors that may explain its occurrence.... Read more »
Smid GE, Mooren TT, van der Mast RC, Gersons BP, & Kleber RJ. (2009) Delayed posttraumatic stress disorder: systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression analysis of prospective studies. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 70(11), 1572-82. PMID: 19607763
- May 29, 2012
- 04:50 AM
- 482 views
Are we winning the fight against Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
It’s the question Richard McNally, an eminent PTSD scholar, posed in Science earlier this month. The journal devoted a special issue to human conflict and McNally zoomed in on PTSD after combat duty. His comments are worth sharing and have implications that go beyond the military:... Read more »
McNally, R. (2012) Are We Winning the War Against Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?. Science, 336(6083), 872-874. DOI: 10.1126/science.1222069
- April 27, 2012
- 08:20 PM
- 565 views
5 key considerations for working with young traumatized children
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are particularly vulnerable to trauma exposure due to their stage of development. Young children interact with their environment before they become aware of potential dangers and threat, are strongly reliant on adults to keep them safe and have limited skills to protect themselves. As a result, young children typically fall within the highest risk category for exposure to sexual and physical abuse, unintentional injury and witnessing domestic violence.... Read more »
Young, A., Kenardy, J., & Cobham, V. (2011) Trauma in Early Childhood: A Neglected Population. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 14(3), 231-250. DOI: 10.1007/s10567-011-0094-3
De Young, A., Kenardy, J., & Cobham, V. (2011) Diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Preschool Children. Journal of Clinical Child , 40(3), 375-384. DOI: 10.1080/15374416.2011.563474
De Young, A., Kenardy, J., Cobham, V., & Kimble, R. (2012) Prevalence, comorbidity and course of trauma reactions in young burn-injured children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 53(1), 56-63. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02431.x
- April 19, 2012
- 05:31 AM
- 480 views
We don’t want to talk about it: Treatment dropout
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
We do not like to talk about it but treatment dropouts and “no-shows” are a big problem in trauma therapy. Actually not in trauma therapy alone, but in outpatient settings in general. About 50% of adult patients drop out of outpatient therapy and the number of children dropping out of treatment seems to be even higher. ... Read more »
Wierzbicki, M., & Pekarik, G. (1993) A meta-analysis of psychotherapy dropout. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 24(2), 190-195. DOI: 10.1037//0735-7028.24.2.190
Miller, L., Southam-Gerow, M., & Allin, R. (2008) Who Stays in Treatment? Child and Family Predictors of Youth Client Retention in a Public Mental Health Agency. Child , 37(4), 153-170. DOI: 10.1007/s10566-008-9058-2
Saxe, G., Heidi Ellis, B., Fogler, J., & Navalta, C. (2012) Innovations in Practice: Preliminary evidence for effective family engagement in treatment for child traumatic stress-trauma systems therapy approach to preventing dropout. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 17(1), 58-61. DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-3588.2011.00626.x
- April 7, 2012
- 04:45 AM
- 611 views
Empowering children and parents
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
How do we involve children and parents when we design new research? And how do we involve them in the development of interventions? In other words, how can we make sure that the studies we conduct and the care we provide are answering their needs?... Read more »
Alisic E, van der Schoot TA, van Ginkel JR, & Kleber RJ. (2008) Looking beyond posttraumatic stress disorder in children: posttraumatic stress reactions, posttraumatic growth, and quality of life in a general population sample. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 69(9), 1455-61. PMID: 19193345
Alisic, E., Boeije, H.R., Jongmans, M.J., & Kleber, R.J. (2011) Children's Perspectives on Dealing With Traumatic Events. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 477-496. info:/http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2011.576979
- March 23, 2012
- 09:24 AM
- 395 views
The 20 most inspiring papers on trauma recovery (or related mental health topics)
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
A few days ago I made an overview of the 20 most cited research papers on traumatic stress. And then came to the conclusion that what I’m really after is sharing a list of what you find the most inspiring ones.... Read more »
Salmon, K., & Bryant, R. (2002) Posttraumatic stress disorder in children: The influence of developmental factors. Clinical Psychology Review, 22(2), 163-188. DOI: 10.1016/S0272-7358(01)00086-1
- March 17, 2012
- 07:14 AM
- 830 views
Psychological support after the bus crash in Switzerland
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
Yesterday was a day of national mourning in Belgium because of a tragic bus accident in Switzerland on Tuesday night. A bus with primary school children and their teachers, returning from a ski trip, had crashed into a tunnel wall near Sion. It caused the loss of 22 children and six adults.... Read more »
Hobfoll, S., Watson, P., Bell, C., Bryant, R., Brymer, M., Friedman, M., Friedman, M., Gersons, B., de Jong, J., Layne, C.... (2007) Five Essential Elements of Immediate and Mid–Term Mass Trauma Intervention: Empirical Evidence. Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes, 70(4), 283-315. DOI: 10.1521/psyc.2007.70.4.283
Watson, P., Brymer, M., & Bonanno, G. (2011) Postdisaster psychological intervention since 9/11. American Psychologist, 66(6), 482-494. DOI: 10.1037/a0024806
- March 13, 2012
- 07:30 AM
- 694 views
Posttraumatic growth: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger?
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
Posttraumatic growth is ”Positive change experienced as a result of the struggle with trauma”. Or, in non-academic terms, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” (Nietsche). Examples are feeling more connected to friends and family, having a clearer view of life priorities, or simply enjoying ‘the little things’ more. Meyerson and colleagues summarized..... Read more »
Meyerson, D., Grant, K., Carter, J., & Kilmer, R. (2011) Posttraumatic growth among children and adolescents: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(6), 949-964. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2011.06.003
- February 28, 2012
- 04:23 PM
- 627 views
An epidemiological approach to stress and trauma: A valuable way to study individual differences in risk and resiliency?
by Eva Alisic in Trauma Recovery
It is no surprise that many children and adolescents we see in clinical practice need help after being exposed to severe stress. However, not all children who are exposed to stress seek clinical help; some are able to cope with severe stress without therapy. What defines the impact of severe stressors and who can cope with traumatic events and who cannot? And are all children at equal risk of getting exposed to these events, or can we distinguish factors that predict the likelihood of becoming a........ Read more »
Nederhof, E., Bouma, E., Riese, H., Laceulle, O., Ormel, J., & Oldehinkel, A. (2010) Evidence for plasticity genotypes in a gene-gene-environment interaction: the TRAILS study. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 9(8), 968-973. DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183X.2010.00637.x
Laceulle, O., Nederhof, E., Karreman, A., Ormel, J., & Aken, M. (2011) Stressful Events and Temperament Change during Early and Middle Adolescence: The TRAILS Study. European Journal of Personality. DOI: 10.1002/per.832
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