This study aimed to investigate the association between the experience of rescue activities in the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and psychological distress among medical rescue workers (MRWs).

MRWs were recruited from March 8 to March 31, 2024. Outcomes were psychological distress and PTSS. Independent variables were the experiences of rescue activities in the Noto Peninsula earthquake and peritraumatic distress assessed by the Peritraumatic Distress Inventory (PDI).

1085 MRWs completed all questions. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that experiences of being overwhelmed by the tragic situation in the disaster area (B = 0.61, p < 0.01), experience of disagreement and conflict among rescuers during rescue activities (B = 0.51, p < 0.01) and PDI (B = 0.33, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with psychological distress, and experience of disagreement and conflict among rescuers during rescue activities (B = 1.70, p < 0.01) and PDI (B = 0.65, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with PTSS.

This study showed factors associated with PTSS and psychological distress among MRWs during the Noto Peninsula earthquake, which was an important finding for future research on the mental health of MRWs.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 5th Edition (DSM-5) and International Classification of Diseases – 11th Revision (ICD-11) employ different post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) criteria, necessitating updated prevalence estimates. Most of the existing evidence is still based on ICD-Tenth Revision and DSM-Fourth Edition criteria, leading to varied estimates across populations. This study provides current PTSD prevalence rates in the German general population, comparing DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria and examines variations by age and gender.

In a 2016 cross-sectional survey of 2404 adults (18–94 years) representative of the German general population, participants completed the Life-Events-Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5) for trauma exposure and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) for PTSD symptoms. Probable PTSD diagnoses were based on DSM-5-, ICD-11-algorithms and suggested cut-off scores. Chi-square and McNemar’s tests were used to test differences in prevalence rates by diagnostic framework, age and gender.

Of the total sample, 47.2% (n = 1135) reported experiencing at least one lifetime traumatic event (TE), with transportation accidents (7.3%) and life-threatening injuries (4.9%) being most common. Probable PTSD prevalence was 4.7% under both DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria, and 2.6% based on a conservative cut-off normed for prevalence estimation. Gender and age were not significantly associated with TE exposure or PTSD prevalence, though trauma types varied: female participants more often reported sexual violence and severe suffering, while more male participants reported physical assaults and various types of accidents. DSM-5 and ICD-11 diagnostic algorithms had substantial yet not perfect agreement (κ = 0.62). Particularly within the re-experiencing symptoms, cluster agreement was only moderate (κ = 0.57). The cut-off method aligned more closely with DSM-5 (κ = 0.60) than ICD-11 algorithm (κ = 0.42).

This study provides updated PTSD prevalence estimates for the German general population and underscores differences between DSM-5 and ICD-11 in identifying cases, particularly with respect to re-experiencing symptoms. These findings emphasize that while overall PTSD prevalence rates under DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria are similar, the diagnostic frameworks identify partially distinct cases, reflecting differences in symptom definitions. This highlights the need to carefully consider the impact of evolving diagnostic criteria when interpreting prevalence estimates and comparing results across studies.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are highly comorbid. A comprehensive meta-analysis on the efficacy of PTSD-specific psychotherapies in reducing comorbid depression is lacking.

To examine the short-, mid- and long-term efficacy of PTSD-specific psychotherapies in reducing comorbid depression.

We performed a preregistered (Prospero-ID: CRD42023479224) meta-analysis and followed PRISMA guidelines. PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Science and PTSDpubs were searched. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) examining psychotherapies for PTSD in samples with ≥70% PTSD diagnosis rate, mean age of sample ≥18 years, ≥10 participants per group and reporting of depression outcome data were included in the meta-analysis.

In total, 136 RCTs (N = 8868) assessed depression. Most data concerned trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapy (TF-CBT), followed by eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing and non-trauma-focused and other trauma-focused interventions. At post-treatment, TF-CBT was associated with large reductions in depression relative to passive controls (Hedges’ g = 0.97, 95% CI 0.80–1.14, k = 46 trials) and moderate reductions relative to active controls (Hedges’ g = 0.50, 95% CI 0.35–0.65, k = 29). Effects relative to control conditions were similar across the other interventions. Response rates for comorbid depression were three times higher in psychological interventions relative to passive controls (odds ratio 3.07, 95% CI 1.18–7.94, k = 4). In head-to-head comparisons, there was evidence for TF-CBT producing higher short-, mid- and long-term reductions in depression than non-trauma-focused interventions. Results at mid- and long term were generally similar to those at treatment end-point.

PTSD-specific psychotherapies are effective in reducing depression. TF-CBT presented with the highest certainty of results. More long-term data for other interventions are needed. Results are encouraging for clinical practice.

Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit smaller regional brain volumes in commonly reported regions including the amygdala and hippocampus, regions associated with fear and memory processing. In the current study, we have conducted a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) meta-analysis using whole-brain statistical maps with neuroimaging data from the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD working group.

T1-weighted structural neuroimaging scans from 36 cohorts (PTSD n = 1309; controls n = 2198) were processed using a standardized VBM pipeline (ENIGMA-VBM tool). We meta-analyzed the resulting statistical maps for voxel-wise differences in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes between PTSD patients and controls, performed subgroup analyses considering the trauma exposure of the controls, and examined associations between regional brain volumes and clinical variables including PTSD (CAPS-4/5, PCL-5) and depression severity (BDI-II, PHQ-9).

PTSD patients exhibited smaller GM volumes across the frontal and temporal lobes, and cerebellum, with the most significant effect in the left cerebellum (Hedges’ g = 0.22, pcorrected = .001), and smaller cerebellar WM volume (peak Hedges’ g = 0.14, pcorrected = .008). We observed similar regional differences when comparing patients to trauma-exposed controls, suggesting these structural abnormalities may be specific to PTSD. Regression analyses revealed PTSD severity was negatively associated with GM volumes within the cerebellum (pcorrected = .003), while depression severity was negatively associated with GM volumes within the cerebellum and superior frontal gyrus in patients (pcorrected = .001).

PTSD patients exhibited widespread, regional differences in brain volumes where greater regional deficits appeared to reflect more severe symptoms. Our findings add to the growing literature implicating the cerebellum in PTSD psychopathology.

It is hoped that this case study will enhance the reader’s understanding of the following areas:

1. (1) The delivery of CT-PTSD when working with relatives of former patients admitted to the ICU.

2. (2) The experiences of intangible loss and disenfranchised grief for relatives of former ICU patients and how these can contribute to the maintenance of PTSD symptoms.

3. (3) The utility of the dual process model (DPM; Stroebe and Schut, 1999) as a framework when adapting the CT-PTSD model to the context of supporting relatives of former ICU patients.

The Kahramanmaras Earthquakes (2023) are the largest and most devastating earthquakes in the history of the Republic. The effects of these earthquakes are particularly deeply felt among younger generations and trigger various psychological factors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to measure the levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social phobia (SP), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and depression on separation anxiety disorder (SAD) among adolescent earthquake survivors affected by the Kahramanmaras Earthquakes (2023).

In the study, the data were obtained using a survey method. A total of 605 adolescent earthquake survivors exposed to the Kahramanmaras earthquakes were reached. The research was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Surprisingly, according to the research findings, there was no significant and positive relationship between SP (β = −0.006, P > 0.05) and Depression (β = −0.117, P > 0.05) on SAD.

Consequently, while PTSD and GAD had significant and positive effects on SAD in those adolescent earthquake survivors affected by the Kahramanmaras Earthquakes (2023), SP and Depression did not have significant and positive effects on SAD. Therefore, it is recommended that future studies examine the effects of SP and Depression on SAD more comprehensively and in detail through qualitative research.

The Resilience Hub was established to coordinate mental health and psychosocial support for anyone affected by the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack.

To use the Hub’s mental health screening data to examine the variation in symptoms reported by children and young persons (CYP) and their parent/guardian and explore any association with time delay in post-event registration or parental distress.

CYP engaging with Hub services were separated into eight ‘admission’ groups depending on when they registered post-incident. CYP were screened for trauma, depression, and generalised and separation anxiety. Parents/guardians also completed screening measures for their own and their child’s anxiety. Baseline and follow-up scores were compared between admission groups. Parental and CYP assessments of the CYP’s anxiety score was compared with the measure of parental distress.

Almost half of CYP registered in the first 3 months of service launch, with numbers of new registrations falling during each subsequent screening cycle. Generally, there was an increase in baseline screening scores as Hub registration time increased. The Children’s Impact of Event scale score decreased by 0.11 (95% CI: −0.17, −0.05) per month, but the score for depression increased by 0.06 (95% CI: 0.03, 0.10). Longitudinal patterns in anxiety and separation were difficult to discern. Screening scores of CYP registering later reduced at a faster rate than those of the first registrants. Higher levels of parental mental distress were correlated with increased anxiety scores assigned to the CYP in relation to the anxiety score reported by the CYP themselves.

CYP who registered earlier were less symptomatic, although those registering later did show increased improvement in their symptoms, indicating that the Hub was beneficial. Parental well-being was associated with child mental distress, indicating that shared family trauma should be considered when planning care.

This preliminary longitudinal web-based study examines the progression of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among individuals affected by severe flooding in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The aim is to provide data that can inform early interventions and future research on mental health following disasters.

Sixty-four participants were assessed during the flood (T1) and 1 month later (T2). Evaluations included sociodemographic data, trauma exposure, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, acute stress disorder (ASD), and PTSD.

Depression and anxiety symptoms remained relatively stable between T1 and T2, while posttraumatic symptoms increased significantly, particularly re-experiencing and avoidance. This progression suggests a shift from initial hyperarousal to more entrenched symptoms of reliving trauma and avoidance, indicating that the long-term effects of trauma may be more closely tied to PTSD. Additionally, trauma exposure and specific ASD symptoms predicted PTSD severity at T2.

The results suggest a time-dependent progression of PTSD symptoms, with initial hyperarousal giving way to re-experiencing and avoidance, which are central to PTSD. Early psychoeducational interventions targeting re-experiencing symptoms and avoidance may help reduce PTSD severity. Further research in larger, more diverse samples is needed to assess generalizability.

The large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 resulted in a humanitarian crisis with hundreds of thousands of children exposed to traumatic events. To date, trauma-focused evidence-based treatments (EBTs) for children and youth have not been systematically evaluated and implemented in Ukraine. This study aims at evaluating 1) the feasibility of a training program for Ukrainian therapists on Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) and 2) the feasibility and effectiveness of the treatment for children, youth, and their families in and from Ukraine during the ongoing war.

The project “TF-CBT Ukraine” was implemented between March 2022 and May 2024, in close collaboration with local and international partners. Therapists completed questionnaires before/after the training, and patients were asked to complete a measure on PTSD before and after treatment.

Altogether 138 therapists started the training program and 44.9% were certified as TF-CBT therapists. The program completers reported overall high satisfaction with the training program, a positive change in their attitude towards EBTs and trauma-related knowledge gain. The patients (age 3–21, 37% male) reported significant improvement in symptoms of PTSD at the end of treatment with large pre-post effect sizes for DSM-5 PTSD (dselfreport = 2.36; dcaregiverreport = 2.27), ICD-11 PTSD (dselfreport = 1.97; dcaregiverreport = 1.77), ICD-11 CPTSD (dselfreport = 2.04; dcaregiverreport = 1.99), and DSM-5 pre-school PTSD (dcaregiverreport = 3.14).

The results of this study are promising in regard to the general implementation of trauma-focused EBTs in active conflict areas. Future studies need to replicate these findings in a randomized controlled study design.

The study objective was to identify the specific challenges experienced by nurses, assess the mental health impacts, and evaluate their role adaptation in response to the ongoing conflict.

A quantitative, descriptive study was conducted involving 202 nurses from 3 hospitals in the South West Bank. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire addressing socio-demographic information, psychological challenges, and role adaptation during the conflict.

The study surveyed 300 nurses, revealing critical findings regarding their psychological well-being and professional challenges. Approximately 65% of respondents reported experiencing symptoms consistent with PTSD, indicating a significant psychological toll due to their work conditions. In terms of workload, 78% of nurses reported an increased patient influx, leading to higher stress levels and burnout. The analysis indicated that nurses faced severe resource shortages, with 60% reporting inadequate medical supplies and 55% citing insufficient staffing.

The findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced training programs, mental health support, and improved disaster management protocols. Educational background and marital status significantly influence nurses’ resilience and adaptability in conflict zones. Addressing these challenges is essential to improving the well-being of nurses and enhancing the quality of care in conflict-affected areas.

1. (1) Following reading this paper, readers will better understand the diagnostic and practice-based complexities involved in assessing traumatic events as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) in an NHS Talking Therapies service.

2. (2) Readers will also be aware of the emotional challenges PWPs in this service have reported experiencing as a result of assessing service users that report having experienced traumatic events.

3. (3) The reader will also learn about PWPs’ perspectives on what could improve this NHS Talking Therapies service’s processes involved in assessing traumatic events and reflect on whether this might be generalisable across other, similar services.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with advanced epigenetic age cross-sectionally, but the association between these variables over time is unclear. This study conducted meta-analyses to test whether new-onset PTSD diagnosis and changes in PTSD symptom severity over time were associated with changes in two metrics of epigenetic aging over two time points.

We conducted meta-analyses of the association between change in PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity and change in epigenetic age acceleration/deceleration (age-adjusted DNA methylation age residuals as per the Horvath and GrimAge metrics) using data from 7 military and civilian cohorts participating in the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium PTSD Epigenetics Workgroup (total N = 1,367).

Meta-analysis revealed that the interaction between Time 1 (T1) Horvath age residuals and new-onset PTSD over time was significantly associated with Horvath age residuals at T2 (meta β = 0.16, meta p = 0.02, p-adj = 0.03). The interaction between T1 Horvath age residuals and changes in PTSD symptom severity over time was significantly related to Horvath age residuals at T2 (meta β = 0.24, meta p = 0.05). No associations were observed for GrimAge residuals.

Results indicated that individuals who developed new-onset PTSD or showed increased PTSD symptom severity over time evidenced greater epigenetic age acceleration at follow-up than would be expected based on baseline age acceleration. This suggests that PTSD may accelerate biological aging over time and highlights the need for intervention studies to determine if PTSD treatment has a beneficial effect on the aging methylome.

Increasing attention has been recently devoted to treatment-resistant depression (TRD); however, its clinical characteristics, potential risk factors, and course are still debated. Most recently, childhood trauma exposure has been correlated to TRD, but systematic investigation on the role of lifetime trauma is still lacking. The aim of this paper was to revise current evidence on early and recent trauma exposure in TRD.

A systematic search was conducted from the 1st of June to the 20th of February 2024 in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and using the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase.

The primary database search produced a total of 1998 record, and finally, the search yielded a total of 22 publications, including 18 clinical studies, 3 case reports, and 1 case series, all from the period 2014 to 2024.

Limitations include a small sample size of some studies and the lack of homogeneity in the definition of TRD. Furthermore, we only considered articles in English, we excluded preprints or abstracts, and we included case reports.

This review highlights the role of early and recent trauma in TRD, even in the absence of a full-blown post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), highlighting the need for a thorough assessment of trauma in patients with TRD and of its role as a therapeutic target.