Does one trauma fit all? Exploring the relevance of PTSD across cultures

Abstract

The wide reach and devastation of recent natural disasters and other traumatic events provides an opportunity to revisit the conceptualization of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Currently, the majority of PTSD research focuses on the aftermath of isolated, single events for individuals, or time-limited trauma episodes (e.g., child abuse). This paper explores classification of traumatic experiences that questions the notion of the ‘post-’ in PTSD. Moreover, the authors focus on placing trauma in a cultural and social context, including an historical perspective and current responses to trauma across the world. Discussion and recommendations concern the role of mental health providers in the face of disasters and other traumatic events across the globe, with a specific consciousness of contexts in which a ‘post-’ is not applicable.