Post-traumatic Stress

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to one or more traumatic events. It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to extreme psychological trauma, such as threat to life, being a victim of crime or sexual assault, witnessing someone's death, or a threat to one's physical and/or psychological integrity. The new edition updated throughout, presents information in a helpful, practical, and accessible way that will be helpful to survivors, and their family and friends. The book begins with a description of PTSD and other related problems, often experienced by survivors, a short history of the developments in the field, information on common responses to trauma, theory, assessment, treatment and research findings. Further chapters reflect new theoretical thinking and directions in the field of trauma including post-traumatic growth following adversity. New chapters to this edition address the impact of traumatic bereavement, the needs of ex-hostages and their families, and suggestions for self-help after trauma. Post-traumatic stress: The Facts is essential reading for sufferers of post-traumatic stress, their families and friends, and will also be of interest to the general reader and a valuable resource for helping professionals, such as general practitioners, psychologists, social workers, mental health nurses, counsellors and those supporting victims of trauma in the voluntary sector. The book will also be helpful for those in the voluntary and statutory sector responsible for providing crisis support to those affected by major traumatic events in the community.

Stephen Regel is founder of the Centre for Trauma, Resilience and Growth, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Honorary Professor in the School of Education, Nottingham University and a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham. He has over 30 years' experience working with trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and his time is divided between clinical, teaching and training activities. He continues as consultant to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) workplace post trauma peer support programme. Since 1997 he has been a psychosocial consultant to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support.
Stephen Joseph is Professor in the School of Education at the University of Nottingham, senior practitioner member of the British Psychological Society register of psychologists specialising in psychotherapy, and an HCPC registered health and counselling psychologist. Thirty years of experience as a researcher and therapist in psychological trauma with interests in posttraumatic growth, positive psychology, and humanistic approaches to helping.

- Section 1: Understanding psychological trauma - 1: Common responses to traumatic events - 2: Concepts and theories of post-traumatic stress - 3: Assessment and formulation - Section 2: Responding to trauma in different contexts and settings - 4: Traumatic Bereavement - 5: Taken hostage: Some considerations for victims, families and employers - 6: Medically related trauma - 7: Cultural responses to trauma - Section 3: Helping survivors and their families - 8: Early Intervention strategies: Mental health promotion - 9: Post-traumatic stress - 10: Post Traumatic Growth - 11: Self-help: Some thoughts