Treating Psychological Trauma and PTSD

This volume presents an innovative psychobiological framework for understanding and treating PTSD. A major emphasis is the need to reformulate diagnostic criteria and treatment goals to reflect emerging knowledge about the complex pathways by which trauma disrupts people's lives. Within a holistic, organismic framework, the editors identify 65 PTSD symptoms contained within five (rather than the traditional three) symptom clusters, and spell out 80 target objectives for treatment. Expert contributors then provide detailed presentations of core therapeutic approaches, including acute posttraumatic interventions, cognitive-behavioral approaches, pharmacotherapy, group psychotherapy, and psychodynamic techniques, as well as approaches to working with specific populations, including children, refugees, and the dually diagnosed. The concluding section reviews and synthesizes all case material presented, examining which symptoms are addressed by each of the core approaches, which treatment goals are met, and which clients can most effectively be helped. Combining cutting-edge theoretical exposition with clear-cut recommendations for practice, this is an ideal resource for clinicians, students, and researchers.

“"This scholarly and lucid book offers a comprehensive, 'state-of-the-art' schema for the treatment of multiple aspects of psychological trauma....Will positively affect trauma research and treatment over the next decade."--International Journal of Group Psychotherapy”

Precise and relevant, a comprehensive review of the history, theory, and treatment of PTSD....I find this an essential text in my graduate counseling course.--James Halpern, PhD, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at New Paltz

Wilson, Friedman, and Lindy define the theory of PTSD treatment with authority and clarity. Readers will appreciate how well the volume integrates the scientific, intellectual, and ethical principles for choosing effective clinical interventions. As much a 'why to' as a 'how to' book, this is a volume to be owned by all serious PTSD scholars and practitioners.--Frank M Ochberg, MD, former Associate Director, National Institute of Mental Health

The perennial request of trauma practitioners is 'Give me something I can use--something practical!' This text defines the major themes of recovery across populations and relates these goals to specific interventions and techniques. Adding the areas of attachment/intimacy and interpersonal relationships and self/identity and life course development to the 'basic three' of PTSD (intrusion, avoidance, physiological symptoms) fills in previously missing gaps. This is one of the first volumes to address PTSD treatment from a non-unitary perspective, acknowledging that traumatic responses exist on a continuum and presenting treatment goals that apply to all aspects of the disorder. It is a great step forward and a 'must read.'--Mary Beth Williams, PhD, LCSW, CTS, coauthor of Life after Trauma

The construct of PTSD and its underlying theory have been challenged by recent advances in research and practice. This book makes a daring attempt to redraw the picture, representing a sort of conceptual avant-garde. Using the construct of allostatic load, the book offers new theory and clinical approaches. The reader will find novelty, excitement, controversy, and much food for thought.--Arieh Y. Shalev, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah University Hospital, Israel
- An authoritative volume that should be on the required reading list for any serious course on trauma, stress, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), victimology, or abnormal psychology or clinical psychology practicum....It broadens the reader's perceptions of psychopathology and provides a much-needed lens for understanding both catastrophic trauma and the inevitable, pervasive, smallerbut commontrauma that goes unrecognized in everyday life.[Chapters] are informed by the latest theory and clinical research and describe a broad array of effective interventions and fine-tuned treatment goals. --Psychiatric Services, 1/15/2004ƒƒ This scholarly and lucid book offers a comprehensive, 'state-of-the-art' schema for the treatment of multiple aspects of psychological trauma....Will positively affect trauma research and treatment over the next decade. --International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 1/15/2004

John P. Wilson, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at Cleveland State University.

Matthew J. Friedman, MD, PhD, is Executive Director of the National Center for PTSD, based at the VA Medical Center in White River Junction, Vermont.

Jacob D. Lindy, MD, is a training and supervising analyst at the Cincinnati Psychoanalytic Institute.

This volume presents an innovative psychobiological framework for understanding and treating PTSD. A major emphasis is the need to reformulate diagnostic criteria and treatment goals to reflect emerging knowledge about the complex pathways by which trauma disrupts people's lives. Within a holistic, organismic framework, the editors identify sixty-five PTSD symptoms contained within five (rather than the traditional three) symptom clusters, and spell out eighty target objectives for treatment. Expert contributors then provide detailed presentations of core therapeutic approaches, including acute posttraumatic interventions, cognitive-behavioral approaches, pharmacotherapy, group psychotherapy, and psychodynamic techniques, as well as approaches to working with specific populations, including children, refugees, and the dually diagnosed. The concluding section reviews and synthesizes all case material presented, examining which symptoms are addressed by each of the core approaches, which treatment goals are met, and which clients can most effectively be helped. Combining cutting-edge theoretical exposition with clear-cut recommendations for practice, this is an ideal resource for clinicians, students, and researchers.

This volume presents an innovative psychobiological framework for understanding and treating PTSD. A major emphasis is the need to reformulate diagnostic criteria and treatment goals to reflect emerging knowledge about the complex pathways by which trauma disrupts people's lives. Within a holistic, organismic framework, the editors identify 65 PTSD symptoms contained within five (rather than the traditional three) symptom clusters, and spell out 80 target objectives for treatment. Expert contributors then provide detailed presentations of core therapeutic approaches, including acute posttraumatic interventions, cognitive-behavioral approaches, pharmacotherapy, group psychotherapy, and psychodynamic techniques, as well as approaches to working with specific populations, including children, refugees, and the dually diagnosed. The concluding section reviews and synthesizes all case material presented, examining which symptoms are addressed by each of the core approaches, which treatment goals are met, and which clients can most effectively be helped. Combining cutting-edge theoretical exposition with clear-cut recommendations for practice, this is an ideal resource for clinicians, students, and researchers.

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