What’s New

New Fact Sheet: Helping Military Personnel Who Experience Work-Related Trauma Exposure

Service members may be repeatedly exposed to trauma in both combat and non-combat settings. Their exposure may be direct (witnessing), indirect (media exposure, videos, etc), or a combination of both. More distressing trauma of longer duration and repeated exposure can increase the risk for adverse effects, which negatively impact interpersonal relationships and operational readiness.

CSTS has developed a new fact sheet outlining before, during and after recommendations to aid military leaders in helping military personnel who experience work-related trauma exposure. The fact sheet can be accessed HERE

Army STARRS: Volume 3, Issue 5, Updated Oct 3, 2019

This document is an ongoing continuous summary of Army STARRS and STARRS-LS publications. Army STARRS (2009-2015) was the largest and most comprehensive research project of mental health among U.S. Army Soldiers ever conducted. The project was designed to examine a broad range of risk and resilience (protective) factors across a complex set of outcomes including suicidal behaviors and associated mental health issues. Army STARRS scientists created a series of large and extensive databases with the potential to achieve groundbreaking results. These databases allow scientists to investigate a diverse combination of factors from demographic, psychological, biological, neurological, behavioral, and social domains with the goal of generating actionable findings for the Army. The project was designed using an adaptive approach which means it evolved as new information became available over the course of the project. The research team shared preliminary findings, as they became available, with senior Army leadership so the Army could apply them to its ongoing health promotion, risk reduction, and suicide prevention efforts. The work is continuing under the STARRS Longitudinal Study (STARRS-LS) which runs from 2015 to 2020.

Joining Forces Joining Families, Fall 2019

The subject of the Fall 2019 issue of of Joining Forces Joining Families newsletter focuses on head trauma related to infant/child abuse, sometimes in the past referred to as “shaken baby syndrome,” but more accurately now called abusive head trauma (AHT). Previous issues of the newsletter can be found here.

HURRICANE DORIAN DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY RESOURCES

In anticipation of Hurricane Dorian's landfall, CSTS has developed a resource page that provides disaster mental health information to assist families, responders, community leaders, and healthcare providers in response and recovery efforts.

Research Review - Summer 2019 Issue

The latest edition of Research Review, a summary of new and innovative research on family violence, is now available on the website. This edition presents seven summaries of child maltreatment and intimate partner violence. The subjects of the child maltreatment summaries are: that the release dates of children's report cards can be associated with corporal punishment and physical abuse, the implications of shame in children that are physically or sexually abused, and suicidal feelings and children's connectedness to peers, family members, and schools. Among the summaries of intimate partner violence research are the implications of one parent alienating a child from the other parent, the association of household food insufficiency with family violence, and descriptions of themes tweeted by women who consider leaving their abusive partners.

El Paso Texas and Dayton Ohio Shooting Response and Recovery Resources

Acts of mass violence, such as the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio cause extreme disruption and distress for individuals and the broader community. Victims, family and friends, first responders and emergency personnel, as well as workplace and community leaders are among those affected. Ongoing and graphic national media exposure creates a disaster “community” that extends far beyond the geographic region of the event. Individual and community strength can be enhanced by interventions that address critical behavioral health issues throughout response and recovery phases. Ideal interventions promote the evidence-based principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA), including: safety, calming, self- and community-efficacy, social connectedness, and a sense of hope/optimism.

Click HERE for resources that provide disaster mental health information to assist families, responders, community leaders, and healthcare providers in response and recovery efforts.

Informational Guide for Healthcare Providers: NOTIFYING FAMILY MEMBERS AFTER UNEXPECTED DEATHS

Although death is not a rare event within healthcare settings, healthcare providers receive little to no training on how to notify family members that their loved one has died. The task can be stressful for the the family, as well as the provider, and the quality of the delivery of information can impact the health and well-being of the bereaved family. While the circumstances of death can vary widely, notifying family members after an unexpected death can be particularly challenging.

CSTS has developed information to guide healthcare providers in the death notification process which can be accessed HERE

New CSTS Article

Active shooter and terrorist event-related posttraumatic stress and depression: Television viewing and perceived safety

Carol S. Fullerton, Holly B. Herberman Mash, Joshua C. Morganstein, & Robert J. Ursano

Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. July 2019. Vol. 13, No. 3; 570-57 [PubMed]

A newly published study by CSTS scientists examined the relationship of sniper-related TV viewing and perceived safety to posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms during the 2002 Washington, DC sniper attacks. Findings suggest that limiting media exposure during a terrorist event may be an area of intervention.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Fact Sheets

Intimate partner violence (IPV), also called domestic violence, is defined as violent or aggressive behavior from a current or previous partner. IPV can also involve direct harm or threats toward children and pets. Nearly 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men in the U.S. report severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime.

CSTS has developed 4 new fact sheets to address this public health issue to help understand IPV behavior, identify signs, and provide support to victims of IPV. These factsheets are intended for those who may observe IPV, victims, and civilian and military clinicians.

Helping Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

Helping Victims of Intimate Partner Violence in Military Populations

Helping Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: Guidelines for Military Clinical Providers

Screening for Child Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV): Guidelines for Clinical Providers

2019: Ethical Use of Big Data for Healthy Communities and a Strong Nation

From the Conference Series: FORUM ON HEALTH AND NATIONAL SECURITY
Conference Report for Ethical Use of Big Data for Healthy Communities and a Strong Nation

Virginia Beach Municipal Center Shootings Response and Recovery Resources

Acts of mass violence, such as the mass shooting at the Municipal Center in Virginia Beach cause extreme disruption and distress for employees and the broader community. Victims, family and friends, first responders and emergency personnel, as well as workplace and community leaders are among those affected. Ongoing and graphic national media exposure creates a disaster “community” that extends far beyond the geographic region of the event. Individual and community strength can be enhanced by interventions that address critical behavioral health issues throughout response and recovery phases. Ideal interventions promote the evidence-based principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA), including: safety, calming, self- and community-efficacy, social connectedness, and a sense of hope/optimism.

Click HERE for resources that provide disaster mental health information to assist families, responders, community leaders, and healthcare providers in response and recovery efforts.

Personalized Medicine in Mental Health and Performance

The NATO Personalized Medicine in Mental Health and Performance Research Task Group held a meeting on the topic of Precision Medicine in Human Performance at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC on the 8th and 9th of May 2019. This international meeting, hosted by LTC Gary H. Wynn, MD and sponsored in part by the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, focused on identification of cutting-edge precision medicine techniques that will lead to improvements in how NATO member nations provide Mental Health problem prevention, diagnoses, and treatment as well as improvements in Mental Health aspects (e.g., focused concentration, mental endurance) related to Military-relevant mission performance. International representation included Canada, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom - along with a number of US partner institutions.

2018 CSTS Annual Report

Immediately available for viewing is the 2018 CSTS Annual Report. In this comprehensive report, you can read summaries of our work in both military and civilian populations to enhance psychological health, speed the recovery from, and help prevent the negative consequences of trauma on individuals, families, communities and nations.

2018 CSTS Annual Report Summary

Available for viewing is a new report that contains a summary of our 2018 Annual Report. This 8-page booklet is an abbreviated version of our comprehensive annual report to provide a brief overview of what we do along with a few details of our 2018 accomplishments.

Joining Forces Joining Families, Spring 2019

Exposure of children to intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important and potentially overlooked form of child maltreatment. The Spring 2019 issue of Joining Forces Joining Families newsletter focuses on the subject of children exposed to IPV. We feature an interview with two noted researchers in the area of child maltreatment, Melissa Kimber, PhD, and Harriet MacMillan, MD, both of McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Other features of this edition are a brief literature review on children exposed, police responses to IPV when children are present, and websites providing resources on the topic. Previous issues of the newsletter can be found here.

Podcast - Ms. Patricia Barron interviews Dr. Stephen Cozza

Ms. Patricia Barron, Director of Family Readiness at the Association of the United States Army interviews Dr. Stephen Cozza, Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS) and Director of the Child and Family Program at CSTS. Dr. Cozza's interview focuses on supporting the needs of military children and families and includes an overview of CSTS's Stepping Forward in Grief study.

Click HERE for the podcast

Henry Pratt Company Workplace Shooting Disaster Response and Recovery Resources

Acts of mass violence, such as the mass shooting at the Henry Pratt Company in Aurora, Illinois, cause extreme disruption and can be distressful for individuals, families and communities. Those receiving assistance as well as those involved in disaster management efforts can be affected. Ongoing national media exposure creates a disaster “community” that extends far beyond the geographic region of the event. Individual and community strength can be enhanced by interventions that address critical behavioral health issues throughout response and recovery phases. Ideal interventions promote the evidence-based principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA), including: safety, calming, self- and community-efficacy, social connectedness, and a sense of hope/optimism. Information relevant to this event and links to succinct, actionable education fact sheets can be found below.

Click HERE for resources that provide disaster mental health information to assist families, responders, community leaders, and healthcare providers in response and recovery efforts.

5 Steps to Save a Life

Suicide is an important public health issue for our communities. Knowing how to help others gives us confidence to reach out and connect with people who seem to be hurting or having difficulties. This "5 Steps to Save a Life" resource is adapted from the National Institute of Mental Health and lists simple steps one can take that may ultimately save someone's life.

Below are pdf versions of the content on a flyer as well as folding card (suitable for printing) FREE to download and share throughout your organization and community.

Click HERE for Flyer Click HERE for Folding Card

PTSD Brain Bank News Spot

News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports

The Uniformed Services University and Veteran's Administration have partnered to open the national PTSD Brain Bank, where researchers will investigate the impact of stress, trauma and PTSD on brain tissue. This work is being conducted in order to advance the scientific knowledge of PTSD, particularly the identification of PTSD biomarkers. Recent media coverage of the Brain Bank, its relevance and potential impacts can be found here.