Art therapy, arts-based research and transitional stories of domestic violence and abuse

Visual imagery within qualitative research is an established method of gathering data that has parallels to the way in which images are used within art therapy. This paper explores how visual imagery was used to investigate women’s responses to domestic violence and abuse and examines how art therapy principles shaped the development and conducting of that research. Through the use of collage, participants created visual representations of their responses to experiences of domestic violence and abuse. The visual representations were, when combined with spoken words, created stories that reference the past, present and future. The stories created have been termed transitional stories of domestic violence. These stories show that the home has special significance for women as they transition away from domestic violence and plan for their future. The home becomes both a metaphorical and physical manifestation and container of hopes for a harmonious future that often incorporates the desire for the return to the idea of a complete family. This paper will present the findings of the arts-based research conducted, and consider the implications upon art therapy practice of those findings.N

Beyond PTSD: Predictors of Psychological Comorbidities in Sexually Abused Children

Several studies have found a number of internalizing (i.e., depressive and anxiety disorders) and externalizing (i.e., attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional-defiant disorder) disorders to be prevalent among youth who have experienced child maltreatment. Several studies have also demonstrated that aspects of the maltreatment experiences and family environment may potentially predict the severity or magnitude of psychopathology among maltreated children. The purpose of this study was to determine potential abuse-related (i.e., frequency, severity, relation to perpetrator, age at onset, other forms of maltreatment) and family environment (i.e., cohesion, adaptability) predictors of psychological comorbidity in sexually abused children with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants included 75 (56 female) clinically-referred children and adolescents aged 5.89-17.12 years (mean=10.95, SD=3.114) and their parents. Measures included the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children, Epidemiological Version, the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales, third edition, and a questionnaire assessing demographic and abuse-related information. Based on diagnostic status, participants were assigned to the Simple PTSD group (no comorbid diagnoses), the Internalizing group (met criteria for a depressive or anxiety disorder but no externalizing disorders), or the Global group (met criteria for an externalizing disorder and may or may not have met criteria for an internalizing disorder). Multinomial logistic regression models were estimated and odds ratio cutoff values were utilized to determine clinically significant predictors of comorbidity group. Results indicated that males were more likely to be in one of the comorbid groups (either Internalizing or Global groups) than females, and those who were abused multiple times were more likely to be in one of the two comorbid groups than participants who experienced one incident of abuse. Similarly, participants who had lower levels of family cohesion and adaptability were more likely to be in one of the comorbid groups than those who had higher levels of family cohesion and adaptability. Younger participants and those who had experienced penetration were more likely to have an externalizing diagnosis (i.e., be in the Global group) than older participants and those who had experienced less physically invasive forms of sexual abuse. Results are discussed in light of previous research and theoretical models of heterogeneous presentations of childhood traumatic stress

Firesetting

https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facbooks/1105/thumbnail.jp

Complex Traumatic Stress in the Pediatric Medical Setting

There has been a recent increase in research focusing on child complex traumatic stress following prolonged or repeated trauma. These traumatic stress reactions often affect many aspects of the child\u27s functioning, including psychological, behavioral, and physical health. In addition, complex traumatic stress experienced by youth with serious medical conditions may influence health issues such as medical adherence, emotional adjustment to illness, and pain management. This article reviews and delineates the current state of the literature on the impact of complex traumatic stress in childhood on mental and physical health as well as on these pediatric health-related issues. To date, few empirical studies have directly addressed this association. Several features associated with complex traumatic stress, such as emotion regulation difficulties, disruptive behavior, and family conflict, have indirectly been demonstrated to interfere with pediatric adherence, medical coping, and pain management. This demonstrates the need for more focused research in this area

Predicting Posttraumatic Stress Following Pediatric Injury: A Systematic Review

Objective To review the recent empirical literature concerning development of posttraumatic stress symptoms following pediatric injury and summarize risk and predictive factors that will inform clinical practice and research. Methods A systematic search of online databases such as PsycInfo, PILOTS, MedLine, and PubMed was performed. Further studies were identified through the reference lists of selected articles. Results Pre-injury psychological problems, the child’s subjective experience of trauma severity/life threat, elevated heart rate immediately following the trauma, beliefs regarding initial symptoms, active thought suppression, and parental posttraumatic stress appear to be consistent predictors of persisting posttraumatic stress in children following injury. Conclusions Specific variables may be useful in predicting posttraumatic stress following injury, which are discussed in terms of existing models of pediatric traumatic stress. Methodologies of included studies are also discussed