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Psychotraumatology

Branch of psychology dealing with study and effects of psychological trauma

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  • 5 chapters

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Through Post-traumatic stress disorder and Dissociative disorder

History

The emergence of psychotraumatology as a field begins with the legitimization of PTSD as a psychological disorder. Symptoms of PTSD have been continuously reported in the context of war since the 6th century B.C., but it was not officially recognized as a valid disorder until it finally classified by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 1980. Once it was officially recognized as an issue, clinical research on PTSD increased dramatically, giving way to the field of psychotraumatology. The term "psychotraumatology" was coined by George S. Everly Jr. and Jeffrey M. Lating in the text entitled "Psychotraumatology" (1995).

Donovan (1991) suggested that the term traumatology be used to unite the various endeavors within the field of traumatic stress studies. As Donovan notes, however, the term traumatology also denotes the branch of medicine that deals with wounds and serious injuries. Schnitt (1993) expressed concern over Donovan's choice of a term that has at least two meanings. He urged clarity of communications as this new field expands; indeed, expansion is often built upon and facilitated by clarity of communications fostered by sematic precision. In a rebuttal of sorts, Donovan (1993) argued for a term broader in scope than traumatic stress studies, the phrase that has been used historically to unite the field. Clearly Schnitt's (1993) commentary offers insight to be considered. There is significant potential for ambiguity in the use of traumatology as a unifying term for the field of psychological trauma. Donovan (1993) argues that the term is "socially influential as well as conceptually and pragmatically useful" (p. 41 0). The potential ambiguity serves to diminish the promised pragmatics, but the lack of sematic precision is easily corrected.

In 1995, the addition of the prefix psycho- to the root traumatology appears to clarify potential ambiguities and more clearly defines the conduct at hand. Such reasoning serves as the foundation for the choice of psychotraumatology as the title of this field published in the Volume of Psychotraumatology.

There are three main categories that are looked at in psychotrauamatology: the factors before, during, and after a psychologically traumatizing event has occurred. Such factors include:

  1. Factors examined before traumatizing event
    • Personal developmental history
    • Familial history (inclusive of both birth parents and primary guardians)
    • Predisposing personality factors
    • Occupational, behavioral and psychiatric risk factors
    • Predisposing psychological states
  2. Factors examined about traumatizing event
    • Environmental, interpersonal, situational, and biological factors
  3. Factors examined after traumatizing event
    • Psychological responses to trauma
    • Central nervous system, systemic pathophysiological, behavioral and psychophysiological effects from previous conditions

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