In line with a masculine gender role, men often cope with traumatic stress in a more problem-focused manner, which may decrease the risk of PTSD symptoms developing and of them becoming more chronic and severe, if they do develop. 19 In contrast, women use more avoidant and emotion-focused coping styles, including relaxation, but they are also more likely to take psychoactive substances in the attempt to reduce the high arousal levels that are associated with a heightened risk of PTSD.
Full Answer
How do men and women cope with trauma differently?
Emotion-focused, defensive and palliative coping are more prevalent in women, while problem-focused coping is higher in men. Women seek more social support, the lack of it being the most consistent predictor of negative outcome of trauma.
Are trauma-focused psychotherapies more effective than other forms of therapy?
The results showed that trauma-focused psychotherapies were more effective than non-trauma-focused psychotherapies, and that they had longer-lasting effects than medications on individuals' well-being. To date, this is the most recent systematic review on this topic.
What is therapy for trauma and how does it work?
Therapy can help disconfirm problematic beliefs, help you develop a new perspective about the traumatic experience, and reduce the intensity of trauma-related emotions such as shame and guilt, says Workman.
What are the most popular types of trauma-focused treatment?
Another popular form of trauma-focused treatment is cognitive processing therapy, or CPT 7,8.
Do men and women process trauma differently?
Men and women experience different types of trauma, both in private life and at work (e.g. police officers, Van der Meer et al., 2017), with women being exposed to more high-impact trauma (e.g. sexual trauma) than men, and at a younger age.
Is PTSD different in men than women?
The results of the meta-analysis found that while males have a higher risk for traumatic events, women suffer from higher PTSD rates. PTSD is defined as an anxiety disorder precipitated by a traumatic event and characterized by symptoms of re-experiencing the trauma, avoidance and numbing and hyperarousal.
Why are there gender differences in reporting reactions to trauma?
Different risk factors are associated with gender differences in PTSD, such as neurohormonal, affective, and social cognition, as well as in coping styles used by females and males to manage distress [83]. Some researchers suggest that gender differences in PTSD are due to these risk factors.
What is the difference between trauma informed and trauma-focused?
Both of these types of care necessitate a thorough understanding of trauma. However, trauma-focused care is more about treating the specific trauma or traumas; trauma-informed care is an awareness of how trauma impacts all aspects of life.
Why are women are more likely than men to develop post traumatic stress disorder PTSD following combat trauma?
Summary. Research shows that women have higher rates of PTSD than men, despite a lower rate of trauma experience. Women's greater exposure to sexual trauma, sexual coercion, and intimate partner violence likely plays a role, as well as biological, environmental, and coping factors.
How does PTSD affect a man?
While men also experience traumas like sexual assault, abuse, and domestic violence, they do so at a lower rate. Combat trauma, with which PTSD is most associated, affects men much more often than it does women. It also generally produces less shame and other negative feelings about oneself.
What is trauma-focused therapy for adults?
What is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? Trauma-Focused CBT is a therapy that directly addresses the impact of traumatic events. There are three main versions of trauma-focused CBT that have been proven in scientific studies to be effective for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
What is the difference between trauma-focused CBT and CBT?
regular CBT. TF-CBT is one specific kind of CBT. A significant difference between the two is that, unlike regular CBT, trauma-focused CBT focuses specifically on the impacts of trauma. While TF-CBT was specifically developed to help children and adolescents after trauma, regular CBT is for people of all ages.
How is trauma informed therapy different?
Trauma-informed therapy is not about a specific intervention but rather tailoring interventions in the context of the individual's trauma history, triggers, and specific needs. It is a lens through which the therapist views their clients, taking into account the impact of trauma on emotions, regulation, and behavior.
What are signs of PTSD in men?
What Are PTSD Symptoms in Men?Feeling extremely lonely or isolated.Having intense emotions and being unable to regulate them.Being hyper-vigilant.Experiencing flashbacks.Dissociating.Constantly bracing for further potential trauma.Feeling helpless or ashamed.
Is depression more common in males or females?
About twice as many women as men experience depression. Several factors may increase a woman's risk of depression. Women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression.
What age group does PTSD affect the most?
The findings suggested that the highest rates of PTSD prevalence among both men and women are found between the age of 18 and 24 years and the lowest among older people [14].
Why is it important to know how trauma discriminates between men and women?
That is why knowing how trauma discriminates between men and women is so critical: gender differences with respect to trauma exposure and PTSD can require gender-specific approaches to drug and alcohol treatment . What follows is a quick rundown of how trauma discriminates between men and women, to help you discern whether a gender-specific approach ...
How much more likely is a woman to develop PTSD than a man?
A woman’s risk of developing PTSD is roughly two times that of a man’s risk of developing PTSD. (That is especially notable since men by and large report experiencing more traumatic events than women.)
When did PTSD come into focus?
Trauma and PTSD first came into focus in the 1980s as an issue that seemed to impact predominantly men. PTSD first got its name when returning (male) Vietnam vets described similar post-war symptoms in the way of flashbacks, nightmares, extreme anxiety, insomnia and dramatic mood disturbances.
Do females have more PTSD than males?
Females are more likely than males to report an experience of rape, sexual assault or child abuse, and these particular PTE’s (rape, sexual assault, etc.) correlate with a greater likelihood of developing PTSD than do other PTE’s (such as accidents, disasters or the witness of death or violence).
Does gender specific recovery work?
Preliminary research suggests that for some women at least , such gender-specific approaches lead to better recovery outcomes , according to a study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Is trauma a substance abuse problem?
Trauma is one of the biggest contributors to substance abuse. Additionally, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a very common co-occurring dual diagnosi s among the substance abuse treatment population. That is why knowing how trauma discriminates between men and women is so critical: gender differences with respect to trauma exposure ...
How prevalent is PTSD in women?
Prevalence and type of trauma: The lifetime prevalence of PTSD is about 10–12% in women and 5–6% in men. There are similar differences between the sexes for (comorbid) disorders such as major depression and anxiety disorders. PTSD subcluster scores have been found to be increased in women, e.g.
Which is more prevalent in women, problem focused or emotional?
Emotion-focused, defensive and palliative coping are more prevalent in women, while problem-focused coping is higher in men. Women seek more social support, the lack of it being the most consistent predictor of negative outcome of trauma.
What is the acute phase of PTSD?
Acute phase, stress-coping and psychotherapy: In the acute phase, women generally score higher than men on acute subjective responses, e.g. threat perception, peritraumatic dissociation and known predictors of PTSD. Women handle stressful situations differently and have evolved differentially to support these different behaviours.
What is trauma focused psychotherapy?
Read Full Article. Hide Full Article. There are other types of trauma-focused psychotherapy that are also recommended for people with PTSD.
What are the best psychotherapies for trauma?
The trauma-focused psychotherapies with the strongest evidence are: 1 Prolonged Exposure (PE)#N#Teaches you how to gain control by facing your negative feelings. It involves talking about your trauma with a provider and doing some of the things you have avoided since the trauma. 2 Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)#N#Teaches you to reframe negative thoughts about the trauma. It involves talking with your provider about your negative thoughts and doing short writing assignments. 3 Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)#N#Helps you process and make sense of your trauma. It involves calling the trauma to mind while paying attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound (like a finger waving side to side, a light, or a tone).
What are the medications used for PTSD?
These are antidepressant medications called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors).
What is the best treatment for PTSD?
Trauma-focused Psychotherapies. Trauma-focused Psychotherapies are the most highly recommended type of treatment for PTSD. "Trauma-focused" means that the treatment focuses on the memory of the traumatic event or its meaning. These treatments use different techniques to help you process your traumatic experience.
What is the difference between present-centered therapy and interpersonal therapy?
A cognitive-behavioral therapy that teaches skills and techniques to manage stress and reduce anxiety. Present-Centered Therapy (PCT) Focuses on current life problems that are related to PTSD. Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) Focuses on the impact of trauma on interpersonal relationships.
What is the best medication for PTSD?
Paroxetine (Paxil) Fluoxetine (Prozac) Venlafaxine (Effexor) NOTE: Medications have two names: a brand name (for example, Zoloft) and a generic name (for example, Sertraline) There are other types of antidepressant medications, but these four medications listed above are the ones that are most effective for PTSD.
What is CPT therapy?
It involves talking about your trauma with a provider and doing some of the things you have avoided since the trauma. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Teaches you to reframe negative thoughts about the trauma.
What Is Trauma Therapy?
Trauma therapy is a form of therapy that can help you deal with the emotional response caused by a traumatic event.
Types of Trauma Therapy
There are multiple types of therapy that can help treat trauma. Workman lists some of the forms of therapy a mental health practitioner may use to help you overcome trauma-related issues and treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) :
Techniques
The techniques used to treat trauma can vary depending on the type of therapy. Workman outlines some techniques your therapist might employ.
What Trauma Therapy Can Help With
Trauma therapy can help you cope with trauma, whether it’s caused by a one-time event, or an ongoing or long-lasting situation.
Benefits of Trauma Therapy
Trauma therapy can help you address the traumatic event and process your feelings and emotions. 2 It can give you the opportunity to face your fears in a safe space and learn coping skills that can help you function on a day-to-day basis.
Effectiveness
According to a 2018 study, there is a substantial amount of evidence that trauma-focused therapies like PE, CPT, and CBT that address memories, thoughts, and feelings related to a traumatic event are effectively able to treat PTSD. 2
Things to Consider
According to Workman, a trauma therapist may consider several factors when assessing your readiness for trauma therapy, which can include:
What is trauma focused treatment?
A trauma-focused treatment involves willingly exposing oneself to reminders of the trauma and to related memories. Non-trauma-focused treatments rely more on cultivating support, warmth, empathy, and insight in the present moment, but they do not deal explicitly with processing the traumatic event in a systematic way.
Why is trauma focused therapy important?
So it is important to have alternative options for treatment that do not include exposures.
What is trauma therapy?
It provides psychoeducation about the impact of trauma on the survivor and teaches problem-solving strategies that focus on current life issues and improving relationship behaviors. The treatment does not include exposures or a focus on altering thinking habits directly.
What is the main divide in psychological non-medication treatments for trauma-related disorders such as PTSD?
The main divide in psychological non-medication treatments for trauma-related disorders such as PTSD is whether they are trauma-focused or non-trauma-focused. To be considered trauma-focused, a treatment must focus on processing the traumatic event through cognitive, behavioral, or/and emotional strategies, or a combination of the three 3. A trauma-focused treatment involves willingly exposing oneself to reminders of the trauma and to related memories.
What is the best treatment for PTSD?
Two of the most well-known trauma-focused treatments are prolonged exposure (PE) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) for children is a very well-recognized option for children. For a summary and list of evidence-based PTSD treatments for adults, visit the American Psychological Association ...
What is TF CBT?
However, TF-CBT also includes parent-specific sessions and parent-child sessions that address the unique needs of child survivors of trauma. In the parent-specific sessions, strategies to support children and reduce parental distress concerning the trauma are discussed.
How long does trauma based therapy take?
It typically takes 12 to 16 sessions, but length depends on the individual's needs and symptom severity.
PTSD and Trauma: Their Military Origins
Gender Differences in Trauma and PTSD
- Here’s how these gender differences break down in greater detail: 1. Women and girls are more likely to show the diagnostic symptoms of PTSD than men and boys. 2. A woman’s risk of developing PTSD is roughly two times that of a man’s risk of developing PTSD. (That is especially notable since men by and large report experiencing more traumatic event...
Why PTSD Affects More Women Than Men
- A definitive explanation for why PTSD affects more women than men is still elusive, because of the many variables that can present themselves in clinical studies of PTSD and gender. Researchers theorize, however, that PTSD affects more women than men on the basis of several factors: 1. the type of trauma (in this case, a greater frequency of rape or sexual abuse among w…
Trauma, PTSD and Gender-Specific Substance Abuse Treatment
- Such findings reinforce a large body of evidence that suggests there are gender differences in the treatment needs of those who abuse drugs or alcohol. For example, those in substance abuse treatment who have experienced a past sexual trauma may benefit from group processing with others of the same gender. Preliminary research suggests that for some women at least, such g…