Mass Psychological Trauma and PTSD: Epidemic Illusion?

Abstract

(from the preface) Derek Silove, Zachary Steele, and Adrian Bauman examine a current controversy in the study of war trauma. To state the controversy simply, it is whether or not PTSD or forms of psychopathy are the inevitable outcome of exposure to traumatic events. The other side of the argument is that such sequela is not inevitable and many, if not most victims/survivors, manifest resilience and good long-term adjustment, despite expectable short-term post-event distress. The authors begin their chapter with a review of the literature regarding the controversy. The chapter includes a comparative table that presents 13 sets of propositions and critiques of trauma and PTSD and pragmatic responses to them based on the current, cumulative scientific literature. Having set the stage about the controversy, the authors next present an illustrative research project on Vietnamese immigrants living in Australia. The chapter details the participants and methodology on a large-scale (N = 1,161) Vietnamese sample and matched Australian controls. Results indicated that trauma remained a powerful predictor of mental disorders eleven years after resettlement. The authors conclude that trauma and PTSD remain important to overall mental health when a person is exposed to severe trauma; however, milder trauma is moderated by the restorative effects of a safe environment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)