Published in:
01-08-2019 | Child and Family Disaster Psychiatry (B Pfefferbaum, Section Editor)
Continuous Traumatic Stress and the Life Cycle: Exposure to Repeated Political Violence in Israel
Authors:
Ruth Pat-Horenczyk, Miriam Schiff
Published in:
Current Psychiatry Reports
|
Issue 8/2019
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Abstract
Purpose of Review
Millions of individuals and families live under continual exposure to threat such as protracted socio-political conflict or community violence facing current and future danger. The construct of continuous traumatic stress (CTS) was suggested as a supplement perspective for the understanding of the specific impact of living under both current and realistic future threat. Yet, the unique parameters, utility, and validity of the construct CTS are underexplored.
Recent Findings
Currently, CTS describes both the exposure and the unique clinical conglomerate of distress. In this paper, we first elaborate on the rationale for the construct of CTS. Then, we present evidence on the consequences of exposure to CTS in the Israeli context of continual ongoing and prolonged political violence.
Summary
Research on CTS is presented across the life cycle with an emphasis on risk and protective factors from a developmental perspective. We conclude with implications for research, assessment, and interventions.