Trauma-informed training as a means of stabilizing the negative impact of stressful and destructive factors of war on the inner world of future specialists.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To determine the conditions for the implementation of trauma-informed training as a means of stabilizing the negative impact of stressful and destructive factors of war on the inner world of future specialists. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: 1,100 students studying in the conditions of martial law took part in the experimental work. RESULTS: Results: As a result of the negative impact of the stressful and destructive factors of the war on the inner world, the future specialists the following manifestations of the deterioration of the health were established: depression (99%), sudden change of mood (92%), worsening of well-being during sudden changes in the weather (66%), irritability (52%), aggressiveness (11%), anger (7%). It was found that future specialists wanted to postpone completing the educational task until later, as they perceived it as very difficult (79%). CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The conditions for the implementation of trauma-informed studying were formulated as a means of stabilizing the negative impact of stressful and destructive factors of war on the inner world of future specialists. 1. During the organization of learning, teachers take into account the fact that psycho-traumas, which are caused by stressful and destructive factors of war, disturb students until they experience them. 2. Teachers take into account the traumatic experience of future specialists. 3. The teachers' actions aim to restore future professionals' sense of security, reestablish contact with other study participants, and regain control over their own lives and studies.

The Relationship Between Childhood Traumatic Experiences and Bodily Distress Syndrome: The Mediating Role of Somatoform Dissociation.

This research aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and bodily distress syndrome, and the mediating role of somatoform dissociation. A total of 241 individuals living in Iran aged 20-40 years (M = 26.41 years, SD = 6.30; 74.7% females) were selected by convenience sampling to participate online in the research in March 2023. They answered the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF), the Bodily Distress Syndrome Checklist (BDS-25), and the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20). The results of the structural equation modeling showed that the model had a good fit, and significant relationships were observed between childhood traumatic experiences and bodily distress syndrome, between childhood traumatic experiences and somatoform dissociation, and also between somatoform dissociation and bodily distress syndrome. The results indicated that somatoform dissociation partially mediates the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and bodily distress syndrome. Furthermore, the prevalence of bodily distress syndrome was higher in the female than the male participants. The results thus highlight the role of childhood traumatic experiences and somatoform dissociation in creating bodily distress syndrome.

Cognitive factors as mediators of the relationship between childhood trauma and depression symptoms: the mediating roles of cognitive overgeneralisation, rumination, and social problem-solving.

Background: Childhood trauma has negative immediate and long-term impacts on depression. Questions remain, however, regarding the cognitive factors influencing this relationship. This study aimed to investigate the role of three cognitive factors - cognitive overgeneralisation, rumination and social problem-solving - as mediating factors in the relationship between childhood trauma and symptoms of depression.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in Iran from March to July 2023. Participants (N = 227; Mean age 32.44 ± 8.95 years) with depression completed measures of childhood trauma, depression, self-overgeneralisation, cognitive errors, memory specificity, rumination and social problem-solving. The conceptual model was assessed using structural equation modelling.Results: Structural equation modelling indicated that childhood trauma had a positive direct effect on depression symptoms. Childhood trauma had a positive indirect effect on depression symptoms through both self-overgeneralisation and rumination and a negative indirect effect on depression through effective social problem-solving strategies.Conclusions: The findings suggest increased exposure to childhood trauma may be associated with elevated depression and self-overgeneralisation, rumination, and effective social problem-solving strategies may play an important role in this relationship. These findings hold potential implications for those working with patients with depression and a history of childhood trauma.

Since the relationship between childhood trauma and depression is not straightforward, the study addresses a significant gap in the understanding of the relationship between childhood trauma and depression symptoms by focusing on cognitive factors as potential mediators among depressed patients.Childhood trauma not only has a direct positive effect on depression symptoms but also indirectly influences depression through self-overgeneralisation and rumination, which contribute to elevated depression, while effective social problem-solving strategies act as a protective factor, leading to decreased depression symptoms.The significance of above cognitive overgeneralisation factors in shaping the relationship between childhood trauma and depression symptoms suggests that therapeutic interventions targeting these cognitive factors might be hold promise in improving mental health outcomes for this vulnerable population.

A psychometric analysis of the Early Trauma Inventory-Short Form in Colombia: CTT and Rasch model.

BACKGROUND: Potential childhood traumatic experiences increase risk for mental and physical health disorders and their precise assessment can help to promote health prevention and promotion strategies for countries with limited data and measurement strategies like Colombia. OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present study is to strengthen evidence for the validity of scores from an adapted version of the Early Trauma Inventory self report-short form (ETI-SF) using Item Response Theory and by assessing factorial invariance across gender and education level. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The study assessed a total of 1909 Colombian participants (66.16 % women, 32.16 % men, 1.68 % other gender; age range 18-72 years old). METHODS: Participants answered the ETI-SF via a web-based sampling strategy. RESULTS: The total scores of the scale showed good reliability coefficients (α = 0.81 and ω = 0.60). A specific analysis for the subscales showed good reliability for the emotional, physical, and sexual trauma subscales (αs and ωs >0.64), while general trauma showed lower than accepted reliability values (α =0.56 and ω = 0.37). Most of the individual items of the scale showed good calibration. The factorial invariance analysis suggests the possibility of some gender and educational differences. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms particularly high rates of potential childhood traumatic experiences in Colombia and complement data for specific trauma types. Overall, the ETI-SF is confirmed as useful for Colombia, which highlights this scale as a good tool to use for public health assessment. Future research can continue the integration of diverse methods for estimating the quality of the scale.

The Effect of Childhood Poly-Victimization on Adulthood Aggression: The Mediating Role of Different Impulsivity Traits.

This study investigated the effect of the poly-victimization pattern of traumatic childhood experiences on aggression via the impulsivity traits positive urgency, negative urgency, lack of perseverance, lack of premeditation, and sensation-seeking in 102 poly-victims of childhood trauma (71.57% were females; Mage = 35.76; SDage = 15.91). Analyses with poly-victimization as an independent variable, impulsivity traits as parallel mediators, (1) reactive aggression or (2) proactive aggression as dependent variables, and gender as a covariate revealed that the poly-victimization did not have a direct or indirect effect on reactive or proactive aggression, nor did it have an effect on any of the impulsivity traits. Moreover, lack of premeditation had a positive direct effect on reactive aggression, while gender was a significant covariate in both models, with males reporting more aggression than females. Findings suggest that the poly-victimization does not influence impulsivity traits and aggression in adulthood. However, in males, the poly-victimization had a positive and moderate correlation with reactive aggression and negative urgency, while these correlations were absent in females. This finding implies that males are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of childhood poly-victimization than females.

U.S. Physicians' Training and Experience in Providing Trauma-Informed Care in Clinical Settings.

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a comprehensive approach that focuses on the whole individual. It acknowledges the experiences and symptoms of trauma and their impact on health. TIC prioritizes physical and emotional safety through a relationship of trust that supports patient choice and empowerment. It provides a safe and respectful healing environment that considers specific needs while promoting a greater sense of well-being, patient engagement, and partnership in the treatment process. Given the prevalence of trauma, this descriptive cross-sectional study examined the attitudes and perspectives of U.S. physicians (N = 179; 67% males; 84% White; 43% aged 56-65) in providing trauma-informed care using an anonymous 29-item online survey administered by Reaction Data. Findings showed that 16% (n = 18) of physicians estimated that >50% of their patients have a history of trauma. Commonly perceived barriers to providing TIC were resource/time/administrative constraints, provider stress, limited awareness of the right provider to refer patients who experienced trauma, and inadequate TIC emphasis in medical education/training. Expanding physicians' knowledge base of trauma through training and organizational policy/support is crucial in enhancing their TIC competence, particularly in caring for patients with complex care needs whose social determinants increase their risk of exposure to adverse experiences that carry lasting physical and psychological effects.

Childhood trauma and factors influencing primary school teachers' reporting of child abuse: Insights from Italy.

BACKGROUND: Childhood traumatic experiences can profoundly impact individuals, posing risks to the physical and psychological well-being of children and influencing their psychological development. Teachers in primary schools play a critical role in identifying and reporting suspected cases of child abuse and maltreatment (CAM), which initiates child protection interventions. However, the psychological factors that influence teachers' likelihood of reporting suspected CAM cases remain largely unexplored. AIM: This study investigates the influence of teachers' childhood traumatic experiences and psychological factors (i.e., cognitive empathy and psychological detachment) on their reporting behavior regarding child abuse and maltreatment, addressing an important social issue. PARTICIPANTS: The study involved 1380 primary school teachers from Italy (88.3 % female; aged 21-69, Mage 46.7, DS 10.3). RESULTS: The results reveal that teachers with a history of childhood emotional abuse tend to report a higher number of suspected child abuse and maltreatment cases. Other forms of traumatic childhood experiences were not significantly associated with teachers' reporting suspected cases of CAM. Additionally, cognitive empathy and psychological detachment emerge as significant predictors of teachers' reporting behavior. CONCLUSIONS: This research contributes to the existing literature by providing unique insights into actual reporting behavior within an unexplored cultural context.

Making Connections: Neurodevelopmental Changes in Brain Connectivity After Adverse Experiences in Early Adolescence.

Adverse childhood experiences have been linked to detrimental mental health outcomes in adulthood. This study investigates a potential neurodevelopmental pathway between adversity and mental health outcomes: brain connectivity. We used data from the prospective, longitudinal Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study (N ≍ 12.000, participants aged 9-13 years, male and female) and assessed structural brain connectivity using fractional anisotropy (FA) of white matter tracts. The adverse experiences modeled included family conflict and traumatic experiences. K-means clustering and latent basis growth models were used to determine subgroups based on total levels and trajectories of brain connectivity. Multinomial regression was used to determine associations between cluster membership and adverse experiences. The results showed that higher family conflict was associated with higher FA levels across brain tracts (e.g., t (3) = -3.81, ß = -0.09, p bonf = 0.003) and within the corpus callosum (CC), fornix, and anterior thalamic radiations (ATR). A decreasing FA trajectory across two brain imaging timepoints was linked to lower socioeconomic status and neighborhood safety. Socioeconomic status was related to FA across brain tracts (e.g., t (3) = 3.44, ß = 0.10, p bonf = 0.01), the CC and the ATR. Neighborhood safety was associated with FA in the Fornix and ATR (e.g., t (1) = 3.48, ß = 0.09, p bonf = 0.01). There is a complex and multifaceted relationship between adverse experiences and brain development, where adverse experiences during early adolescence are related to brain connectivity. These findings underscore the importance of studying adverse experiences beyond early childhood to understand lifespan developmental outcomes.

Traumatic Experiences and Psychopathological symptoms in Prison Population and General Population

Traumatic events are stressful episodes that exceed an individual's coping resources and have been related to physical and mental health problems, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder. This study aims to compare the prison population and the general population in terms of trauma and psychopathological symptoms derived from exposure to traumatic events in the context of Ecuador. It is a descriptive-comparative and cross-sectional study. The study sample consisted of 99 incarcerated individuals and 84 persons from the general population of Ambato-Ecuador. The results indicate that persons from the prison population have experienced multiple traumas and re-victimization to a greater extent and present a higher percentage of PTSD and psychopathological symptoms than the general population. In that sense, it is a population that requires more significant intervention to reduce symptoms and prevent violent behavior.

Los eventos traumáticos son hechos estresantes que exceden los recursos de afrontamiento de un individuo y han sido relacionados con problemas de salud física y mental, particularmente con el trastorno de estrés postraumàtico. El objetivo de este estudio es comparar las experiencias traumáticas y los síntomas psicopatológicos entre la población penitenciaria y la población general. Es un estudio descriptivo-comparativo de corte transversal. La muestra del estudio estuvo conformada por 99 individuos encarcelados y 84 individuos de la población general de Ambato (Ecuador). Los resultados indican que los participantes de la población penitenciaria han experimentado en mayor medida múltiples traumas y revictimización; presentan un mayor número de síntomas psicopatológicos y un porcentaje más elevado de TEPT que la población general. Las diferencias que se presentan entre la población penitenciaria y la población general pueden deberse a que las personas encarceladas son más vulnerables a estar expuestas a eventos potencialmente traumáticos por su propia situación social. La población penitenciaria requiere una mayor intervención para reducir los síntomas psicopatológicos provocados por el trauma.

Intergenerational trauma and war-induced PTSD in Kosovo: insights from the Albanian ethnic group.

Introduction: War has profound and deep-rooted ramifications for individuals and societies. War-induced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent in Kosovo. This study aimed to obtain insights into the prevalence of perceived PTSD symptoms and their relation to the traumatic experiences of two generations: parents (survivors of the Kosovo War) and youth (children born after the Kosovo War), with an emphasis on the Albanian ethnic group. These experiences were then compared to understand intergenerational trauma. The study also aimed to identify the factors affecting PTSD prevalence, the role of social support, and the participants' experience with mental health services. Method: A total of 237 Kosovar Albanians (121 parents, 116 youth) from all seven districts of Kosovo were included in this study. Study variables were measured using the PTSD Checklist, the Life Events Checklist, Criterion A, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Results: The results revealed that the youth had significantly higher levels of perceived PTSD symptoms and lower levels of perceived support than their parents. Youth whose parents had PTSD were more prone to experiencing PTSD symptoms than those whose parents did not have PTSD. These youth also experienced significantly more traumatic situations, such as exposure to sudden violent death or accidental death, assault with a weapon, sexual assault, and captivity. Participants with perceived PTSD and lower perceived social support needed mental health interventions significantly more than those without PTSD symptoms. Discussion: The findings emphasize the importance of addressing the intergenerational nature of PTSD and identifying factors affecting its prevalence, including social support and access to mental health services. The study underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to examine the complex and diverse nature of PTSD and its impact on individuals, families, and communities, especially in conflict-prone or conflict-affected societies.

Potentially traumatic experiences pre-migration and adverse pregnancy and childbirth outcomes among women of Somali- and Kurdish-origin in Finland.

BACKGROUND: Women in precarious conditions in their countries of origin, especially those who have left the country as refugees, may have been victims of serious mental and physical violence. These potentially traumatic experiences may threaten women's reproductive health. This study examines the prevalence of potentially traumatic experiences pre-migration and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and their associations with adverse reproductive outcomes among migrant women of Somali- and Kurdish-origin who have been pregnant in Finland. METHODS: Survey and register data of the participants of the Finnish Migrant Health and Wellbeing Study (Maamu), conducted in 2010-2012, were used. Women of 18 to 64 years of age, 185 Somali- and 230 Kurdish-origin, who had at least one pregnancy or birth in Finland were included in the analysis. The survey data were linked to the Finnish Medical Birth Register, the Register of Induced Abortions, and the Care Register for Health Care until 2018. For each outcome, logistic regression was used and adjusted for age, body mass index, time lived in Finland, and the number of births. RESULTS: A total of 67% of Somali-origin and 71% of Kurdish-origin women had experienced potentially traumatic experiences pre-migration and 64% of Somali- and 32% of Kurdish-origin women had also undergone FGM/C. In Kurdish-origin women, complications during pregnancy (e.g. bleeding in the first trimester, known or suspected fetal abnormality, signs of fetal hypoxia, death of the fetus and other problems) were significantly more common among women without potentially traumatic experiences (70%) than among women with potentially traumatic experiences (48%) (p-value 0.005). No associations between potentially traumatic experiences or FGM/C and other adverse reproductive outcomes were observed among Somali- or Kurdish-origin women. CONCLUSION: Past trauma is common among Somali- and Kurdish-origin women and this needs to be evaluated in maternity care. However, we found no association between potentially traumatic experiences pre-migration and adverse reproductive outcomes.

Impaired Sleep Mediates the Relationship Between Interpersonal Trauma and Subtypes of Delusional Ideation.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Trauma is a robust risk factor for delusional ideation. However, the specificity and processes underlying this relationship are unclear. Qualitatively, interpersonal traumas (i.e., trauma caused by another person) appear to have a specific relationship with delusional ideation, particularly paranoia, given the commonality of social threat. However, this has not been empirically tested and the processes by which interpersonal trauma contributes to delusional ideation remain poorly understood. Given the role of impaired sleep in both trauma and delusional ideation, it may be a critical mediator between these variables. We hypothesized that interpersonal trauma, but not non-interpersonal trauma, would be positively related to subtypes of delusional ideation, especially paranoia, and that impaired sleep would mediate these relationships. STUDY DESIGN: In a large, transdiagnostic community sample (N = 478), an exploratory factor analysis of the Peter's Delusion Inventory identified three subtypes of delusional ideation, namely magical thinking, grandiosity, and paranoia. Three path models, one for each subtype of delusional ideation, tested whether interpersonal trauma and non-interpersonal trauma were related to subtypes of delusional ideation, and impaired sleep as a mediating variable of interpersonal trauma. STUDY RESULTS: Paranoia and grandiosity were positively related to interpersonal trauma and unrelated to non-interpersonal trauma. Furthermore, these relationships were significantly mediated by impaired sleep, which appeared strongest for paranoia. In contrast, magical thinking was unrelated to traumatic experiences. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support a specific relationship between interpersonal trauma and paranoia as well as grandiosity, with impaired sleep appearing as an important process by which interpersonal trauma contributes to both.

Trauma Experiences Are Common in Anorexia Nervosa and Related to Eating Disorder Pathology but Do Not Influence Weight-Gain during the Start of Treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The main characteristics of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) in adults are restriction of energy intake relative to requirements leading to significant weight loss, disturbed body image, and intense fear of becoming fat. Traumatic experiences (TE) have been reported as common, although less is known about the relationship with other symptoms in severe AN. We investigated the presence of TE, PTSD, and the relation between TE, eating disorder (ED) symptoms, and other symptoms in moderate to severe AN (n = 97) at admission to inpatient weight-restoration treatment. All patients were enrolled in the Prospective Longitudinal all-comer inclusion study on Eating Disorders (PROLED). METHODS: TE were assessed using the Post-traumatic stress disorder checklist, Civilian version (PCL-C), and ED symptoms using the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q); depressive symptoms were assessed using the Major Depression Inventory (MDI), and the presence of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was diagnosed according to ICD-10 criteria. RESULTS: The mean score on PCL-C was high (mean 44.6 SD 14.7), with 51% having a PCL-C score at or above 44 (n = 49, suggested cut-off for PTSD), although only one individual was clinically diagnosed with PTSD. There was a positive correlation between baseline scores of PCL-C and EDE-Q-global score (r = 0.43; p < 0.01) as well as of PCL-C and all EDE-Q subscores. None of the included patients were admitted for treatment of TE/PTSD during the first 8 weeks of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In a group of patients with moderate to severe AN, TE were common, and scores were high, although only one had a diagnosis of PTSD. TE were related to ED symptoms at baseline, but this association diminished during the weight restoration treatment.

Sex Differences in Patterns of Childhood Traumatic Experiences in Chinese Rural-To-Urban Migrant Children.

BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents are likely to be exposed to various types of childhood traumatic experiences (CTEs) with gender-specific patterns. Rural-to-urban migrant children have been demonstrated a greater risk of CTE exposure than local children. However, no study has investigated sex differences in the patterns of CTEs and predictive factors among Chinese children. METHODS: A large-scale questionnaire survey of rural-to-urban migrant children (N = 16,140) was conducted among primary and junior high schools in Beijing. Childhood trauma history, including interpersonal violence, vicarious trauma, accidents and injuries was measured. Demographic variables and social support were also examined. Latent class analysis (LCA) was utilized to examine patterns of childhood trauma, and logistic regression was used to examine predictors. RESULTS: Four classes of CTEs were found among both boys and girls, labeled low trauma exposure, vicarious trauma exposure, domestic violence exposure, and multiple trauma exposure. The possibility of various CTEs in the four CTE patterns was higher among boys than girls. Sex differences also manifested in predictors of childhood trauma patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings shed light on sex differences in CTE patterns and predictive factors in Chinese rural-to-urban migrant children, suggesting that trauma history should be considered along with sex, and sex-specific prevention and treatment programs should be developed.

School-based Psychosocial interventions on mental health among Chinese rural children with traumatic experiences: a protocol using cluster randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The first aim of this study is to test the effectiveness of school-based psychosocial interventions for improving mental health in rural Chinese children with traumatic experiences. The second aim is to examine which individual, family and school related factors could explain the effectiveness of school-based psychosocial interventions. Third, we will investigate whether individual, family, and school related conditions play a moderator role on the effectiveness of school-based psychosocial interventions. METHODS: This study will conduct a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) in a large sample of Chinese rural children. Four rural counties in Shandong (Central China), Henan (Central China), Inner Mongolia (Northern China), and Xinjiang (Western China) will be selected as study settings from which schools will be sampled. Each sampled school will be randomly allocated either the intervention groups or a control group. Randomization will be performed by the research member who is not involved in the intervention stage. In each school students in grade 5 or higher will be recruited to ensure that approximately 50 children aged 10 to 18 years will be included. In each county, one high school, one middle school, and one primary school will be randomly chosen as the intervention group, and the other three similar schools will be chosen as control (waiting list) groups. A standardized and uniform research protocol will be applied in all intervention schools. All school social workers and psychological teachers would receive one week of in-person training following procedures. School-based psychosocial interventions included 14 group sessions for 14 consecutive weeks. DISCUSSION: This study would develop school-based mental health promotion policy recommendations to improve Chinese rural children's mental health. This study can provide solid evidence for the promotion of school-based intervention in general. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2300069405, Registered on 15 March 2023.

Traumatic experiences and PTSD symptoms in substance use disorder: A comparison of recovered versus current users.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of traumatic experiences and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in treatment-seeking individuals with ongoing substance use disorder (SUD) compared to individuals who have recovered from SUD. Methods: Patients with SUD recruited from the STAYER study (N = 114) underwent an examination of alcohol and drug use, childhood trauma, negative life events and PTSD symptomatology. In this study, only participants with 12-month concurrent polysubstance use was included. Using historical data from the STAYER study, alcohol and drug trajectories were dichotomised as (1) current SUD (current SUD) or (2) recovered from substance use disorder (recovered SUD). Crosstabs and chi-tests were used to measure differences between groups. Results: Childhood maltreatment, traumatic experiences later in life and symptoms of concurrent PTSD were highly prevalent in the study population. We found no significant difference between the current and recovered SUD groups. Recovered women reported a lower prevalence of physical neglect (p = 0.031), but a higher prevalence of multiple lifetime traumas (p = 0.019) compared to women with current SUD. Both women with current SUD and recovered women reported a significantly higher prevalence of sexual aggression than men (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). In addition, men who have recovered from SUD reported a lower prevalence of PTSD symptoms over cut-off 38 (p = 0.017), of re-experiencing (p = 0.036) and of avoidance (p = 0.015), compared to recovered women. Conclusion: Reported trauma did not differ between persons with current SUD and those who had recovered from SUD. Gender differences discovered in this study indicate the importance of developing individualised and gender-specific treatment models for comorbid PTSD/SUD.

The moderating role of early traumatic experiences on the association of schizotypal traits with visual perception.

The findings on the association of schizotypal traits with the perception of visual illusions are scarce and inconsistent and have not taken into consideration potential effects of childhood traumatic experiences, a risk factor for schizophrenia-spectrum conditions. Thus, the present study addressed the question of potential moderating effects of early traumatic experiences on the association between different aspects of schizotypal traits with the perception of the Müller-Lyer and Navon's Hierarchical Letters (NHL) illusions. The study revealed that (a) increased suspiciousness was associated with increased liability to the Müller-Lyer illusion, when the exposure to traumatic events was high, whereas the opposite pattern was true when the exposure to traumatic events was low; (b) negative schizotypy was associated with more accurate global perception, and high disorganized schizotypy was associated with superior accuracy when target letters were present during the NHL illusion, when early traumatic experiences were at lower levels; and (c) high negative, disorganized, and total schizotypy were associated with lower accuracy when target letters were present in the NHL paradigm, when early traumatic experiences were at higher levels. The findings of the study suggest that early traumatic events differentially moderate the relationship between various aspects of schizotypal traits and visual perceptual processing.

Childhood maltreatment and sense of parenting competence: The mediating role of parental reflective functioning and perceived social support.

OBJECTIVES: Childhood maltreatment has a negative impact on a sense of parenting competition. However, its underlying mechanisms are still unknown. The present research aimed to investigate the roles of parental reflective functioning and social support as mediating factors in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and negative feeling of parenting competence. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 489 parents of children aged 5 to 13 between October 23 and December 12, 2021, in Shiraz, Iran. Participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC), Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), and Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied using AMOS 22 to test our conceptual model. RESULTS: The results of structural equation modeling indicated that childhood maltreatment had a negative direct effect on the sense of parenting competence. Furthermore, childhood maltreatment had a negative indirect effect on the sense of parenting competence through both parental reflective functioning and perceived social support. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggested that increased exposure to childhood maltreatment may have decreased parental competence. However, the important role of parental reflective functioning and perceived social support in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and parenting competence should not be ignored. These results can have some implications for counselors working with parents with childhood trauma experiences.

Impact of traumatic life events and polygenic risk scores for major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder on Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans.

Traumatic experiences and genetic heritability are among the most widely acknowledged risk factors leading to the development of psychopathology; including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). The purpose of this study was to investigate if polygenic risk scores (PRS) among Veterans interacted with traumatic stress to predict PTSD and MDD. 1,389 Iraq-Afghanistan military service Veterans from the Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center dataset were analyzed. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) statistics were utilized to generate PRS for PTSD (PRSPTSD) and PRS for MDD (PRSMDD) in order to analyze PRS-by-environment (PRSxE) with trauma exposure to predict PTSD and MDD diagnoses. Trauma exposure and PRSPTSD, were independently associated with a current PTSD diagnosis (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The interaction between trauma exposure and PRSMDD to predict a current diagnosis of PTSD trended towards significance (p = 0.053). Stratifying by trauma thresholds, among those within the lowest trauma load, the association of PRSMDD with PTSD was found to be nominally significant (p = 0.03). For a MDD diagnosis, there was a significant association with trauma exposure (p < 0.001); and the association with PRSMDD was found to be nominally significant (p = 0.03). No significant PRSxE effects were found with MDD. Our findings corroborate previous research highlighting trauma exposure, and genetic heritability, as risk factors for the development of PTSD and MDD in a Veteran population. Additionally, findings suggest that genetic vulnerability may be less important as trauma exposure increases, with high levels of trauma likely to result in PTSD and MDD, regardless of genetic vulnerability.

Traumatic experiences of the Great East Japan Earthquake and postpartum depressive symptoms: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Natural disasters can have serious mental health consequences. We aimed to examine the long-term effects of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) on postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS). METHODS: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study recruited pregnant women in Miyagi Prefecture from 2013 to 2016. Data from 11,403 participants were used in this study. Women were asked about their traumatic experiences of the GEJE with questions addressing threat, witness, and loss. PDS were defined as Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score ≥9 at 1 month after delivery. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations of different traumatic experiences of the GEJE and number of traumatic experiences with PDS, after adjustment for age, parity, feelings toward pregnancy, education, income, social isolation, house damage caused by the GEJE, and survey year. RESULTS: About two-fifths of women had at least one traumatic experience of the GEJE. The prevalence of PDS at 1 month after delivery was 13.3 %. Life-threatening experience and witnessing another person's actual or threatened death were associated with PDS: the odds ratios (ORs) were 1.40 (95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.24-1.59) and 1.28 (95 % CI, 1.08-1.53), respectively. Loss of close person was not associated with PDS: the OR was 1.13 (95 % CI, 0.99-1.30). Larger number of traumatic experiences of the GEJE was associated with increased risk of PDS (p for trend <0.001). LIMITATIONS: PDS was self-reported. CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic experiences of the GEJE prior to pregnancy were associated with increased risks of PDS.