Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders: A Comprehensive Guide for Clinicians

Written by Patricia R. Casey, this academically rigorous and clinically practical book provides a thorough understanding of trauma- and stressor-related disorders, fully informed by the new DSM-5 category.

Understanding the Role of Stress and Trauma

Stress and trauma have long been recognized as playing a crucial role in the etiology of certain psychiatric disorders. This book expertly delineates normal and pathological responses to stress, providing a conceptual framework for understanding trauma- and stressor-related disorders.

An individual’s response to stress depends on numerous genetic, developmental, cognitive, psychological, and neurobiological risk and protective factors. These factors are examined from both a scientific and clinical perspective, offering a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions involved.

Clinical Applications and Resilience

Central to the book’s utility is its presentation of clinical vignettes that help readers contextualize the information presented and model effective clinical skills. A robust section on assessing the psychosocial factors associated with resilience is also included, highlighting the importance of optimism, cognitive flexibility, and social support networks.

Practical guidance is provided on encouraging and enhancing these factors, as well as implementing psychosocial interventions to aid patients who have experienced trauma to promote resilience by targeting these factors.

Medical-Legal Aspects and Controversies

A comprehensive chapter on the medical-legal aspects of trauma- and stressor-related disorders is also featured, as clinicians working with these patients frequently encounter situations that have legal implications.

The book addresses controversies unique to this group of disorders, including the requirement of a stressor as an etiological agent, adding complexity to these diagnoses.

International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) and Treatment Recommendations

A comprehensive overview of the development of the stress and trauma disorders chapter of the upcoming revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) is provided, including crosswalk tables to compare ICD-10, DSM-5, and the planned ICD-11.

A summary of the evidence base for specific treatments for ICD-10 or ICD-11 stress and trauma disorder categories is also included, offering readers the latest research and treatment recommendations.

Practical Resources and Further Learning

Key points, informative websites, and recommended reading are provided at the end of each chapter, designed to consolidate and extend the practitioner’s knowledge base.

Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders is an expertly edited, easy-to-use resource that will earn its place in the clinician’s library, providing a comprehensive understanding of trauma- and stressor-related disorders and practical guidance for effective clinical practice.