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Helping Children Come to Terms with Sexual Abuse
The classic definition of “trauma” provided by Bessel Vander Kolk (1987) includes both the dramatic nature of an event as well as the individual’s ability to cope. Despite our capacity to survive and adapt, trauma can alter one’s psychological, biological and social equilibrium to such a...
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How Will They Tell Their Story? PTSD and Substance Use Disorder
A few years ago, while visiting a substance abuse treatment program, I was discussing treatment protocols with the Clinic Director. A case was brought up in which the woman patient clearly had a history of traumatic abuse. When I asked how the program addressed these issues, the Director replied,...
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New York to Develop Strategies to Assist Returning Veterans and Their Families
Governor David A. Paterson recently announced that New York was one of nine states and one territory that participated in the National Policy Academy for returning veterans; a public-private collaborative aimed at developing strategies to improve services provided to returning veterans needing...
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Posttraumatic Growth: Positive Psychological Changes After Trauma
After a trauma, victims, their loved ones and the professional community are often concerned with the subsequent psychological and physical ramifications. There is a plethora of research that documents the deleterious effects of trauma. While it is only natural to want to understand the damaging...
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From Da Nang to Baghdad: Treating Combat PTSD
In 1971 I was assigned to the 98th Medical Detachment, KO Team, one of two specialized, 28 man units made up of psychiatrists, a social work officer, nurses, and para-professional enlisted specialists in social work and neuropsychiatric procedures to assess and treat psychiatric casualties and drug...
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Columbia Trauma and PTSD Program: Vital Research and Treatment for Veterans
Those of us who have not had the misfortune of enduring war find it difficult to understand. Popular culture is rife with images of warfare, but nothing in civilian life actually compares to the experiences of combat. Combat stress includes not only the constant threat of injury and death, the...
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Bridging Clinical and Research Frontiers in the Treatment of PTSD
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating stress-related psychiatric condition associated with significant psychiatric comorbidity, functional impairment, compromised health status, early mortality, and substantial economic costs to society. Despite the efficacy of...
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Understanding and Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can occur after you have been through a traumatic event. A traumatic event is something horrible and scary that you see or that happens to you. During this type of event, you think that your life or others’ lives are in danger. You...
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The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Responds to Post 9/11 Public Need
In recognition of the lasting psychological consequences of the WTC attack for many New York City residents, the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene launched the NYC 9/11 Benefit Program for Mental Health and Substance Use Services. This benefit helps cover the costs of services...
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The Legal Case in Support of Veterans Suffering with PTSD
Initially referred to as being “shell shocked” and now properly diagnosed as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), soldiers returning from combat often suffer from severe psychological injuries as a result of horrific experiences they were exposed to. Today, with this country engaged in two...
