Health care needs, experiences, and satisfaction after terrorism: a longitudinal study of parents of survivors of the Utøya attack.

BACKGROUND: There is scarce knowledge on the health care follow-up of parents of terror attack survivors. This study focused on the mothers and fathers of survivors and examined (1) their perceived health care needs relative to their psychological reactions, physical health problems (unmet health care needs), and adaptation to work; (2) whether sociodemographic characteristics, health problems and social support were associated with unmet health care needs; and (3) how unmet health care needs, sociodemographic characteristics, and experiences with health services associated with overall dissatisfaction during the health care follow-up. METHODS: Interview and questionnaire data from three waves of the Utøya parent study were analyzed (n = 364). Chi-square tests and t- tests were used to compare unmet physical and psychological health care needs, sociodemographic factors and post-terror attack health reported by mothers and fathers. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine whether sociodemographic characteristics, unmet health care needs, and health care experiences were associated with overall dissatisfaction among mothers and fathers of the survivors during the health care follow-up. RESULTS: Among the mothers, 43% reported unmet health care needs for psychological reactions, while 25% reported unmet health care needs for physical problems. Among the fathers, 36% reported unmet health care needs for psychological reactions, and 15% reported unmet health care needs for physical problems. Approximately 1 in 5 mothers and 1 in 10 fathers reported "very high/high" needs for adaptation to work. Poorer self-perceived health, higher levels of posttraumatic stress and anxiety/depression symptoms, and lower levels of social support were significantly associated with reported unmet psychological and physical health care needs in both mothers and fathers. Parents with unmet health care needs reported significantly lower satisfaction with the help services received compared to parents whose health care needs were met. Low accessibility of help services and not having enough time to talk and interact with health care practitioners were associated with overall dissatisfaction with the help received. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight that parents of terror-exposed adolescents are at risk of having unmet psychological and physical health care needs and thus need to be included in proactive outreach and health care follow-up programs in the aftermath of a terror attack.

'My child could have died': counterfactual thoughts and psychological distress in parents of trauma survivors.

Background: After exposure to a potentially traumatic event, survivors may experience thoughts about 'what could have happened', referred to as counterfactual thoughts (CFTs). CFTs have been found to have a negative impact on survivors' mental health. This is the first study to investigate whether parents of trauma survivors experience CFTs and the association with psychological distress in this group.Objective: The main aim of the present study is to investigate CFTs in parents of trauma survivors and the relationship between the frequency and vividness of CFTs and psychological distress.Method: The participants (N = 310, 191 females) were parents of the youths targeted in the terror attack on Utøya island, Norway, in 2011. Frequency and vividness of CFTs, posttraumatic stress reactions (PTSR), and symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured 8.5-9 years post-terror.Results: The majority of the parents (74%) reported having experienced CFTs at some time point since the attack. For almost one-third of the parents, CFTs were still present more than eight years after the attack. Higher frequency and vividness of CFTs were uniquely associated with higher levels of PTSR, anxiety, and depression.Conclusion: The present findings suggest that frequent and vivid CFTs may contribute to mental health problems in parents of trauma survivors and should be addressed in therapy.

A quantitative study investigating the relationship between counterfactual thoughts and psychological distress, in parents of trauma survivors.The majority of the parents reported having experienced counterfactual thoughts at some time point since the attack. For almost one-third of the parents, counterfactual thouhgts were still present more than eight years after the attack. Higher frequency and vividness of counterfactual thoughts were uniquely associated with higher levels of psychological distress.The present findings suggest that frequent and vivid counterfactual thouhgts may contribute to mental health problems in parents of trauma survivors and should be addressed in therapy.

Predictors of early adulthood insomnia following exposure to a single mass violence attack during adolescence: 7-13 year follow-up from the Utøya and HUNT studies.

Background: The long-term impact of mass violence attacks is practically unknown, especially in children and adolescents. In a previous study, we found that 8.5 years after a terror attack targeting mainly adolescents, nearly half of the survivors met diagnostic criteria for insomnia.Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate: (1) whether exposure to a single mass violence event during adolescence increases the risk of insomnia almost a decade later above that expected for a non-exposed population; and (2) whether prior interpersonal violence exposure and early post-traumatic reactions predict later insomnia.Method: Participants were survivors of the 2011 Utøya Island terrorist attack (n = 279) and controls from the HUNT Norwegian general population study (n = 35,664). Early adulthood insomnia was assessed using four items from the Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire 8.5 years after the attack. Participants who had also completed earlier data collection waves for both studies (n = 116 and 2382, respectively) were included in logistic regression models testing the associations between predictors during adolescence and later insomnia.Results: Nearly a decade after the Utøya attack, 38.4% (n = 56) of the survivors reported symptoms of insomnia indicative of probable insomnia compared to 20.5% (n = 5771) of controls. Terror exposure during adolescence was a significant predictor of later insomnia [odds ratio (OR) = 3.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.05-4.87, p < .001]. Early post-trauma symptoms of anxiety and depression (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.02-1.76, p = .033) and weekly headaches (OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.08-2.47, p = .018) were also significant predictors while controlling for background factors and other predictors.Conclusion: Long-term assessment and treatment are needed for survivors of mass violence to improve resilience and recovery.

Nearly twice as many young adults exposed to a terror attack during adolescence report insomnia compared to a general population sample.Exposure to the attack and early post-trauma symptoms of anxiety, depression, and weekly headaches were significant predictors of insomnia around a decade later.Long-term assessment and treatment is needed for survivors of mass violence attacks.

What will others think of me? The longitudinal association between trauma-related shame and guilt and psychopathology after a terror attack.

BACKGROUND: Trauma-related shame and guilt have been identified as important factors for mental health following interpersonal trauma. For survivors of terror and disasters, however, the role of shame and guilt remains largely unknown. AIMS: To explore the long-term occurrence of trauma-related shame and guilt among survivors of a terror attack, and the potential importance of these emotions for mental health. METHOD: A total of 347 survivors (48.7% female, mean age at the time of the attack: 19.25 years, s.d. = 4.40) of the 2011 massacre on Utøya island, Norway, participated in face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. Trauma-related shame and guilt were measured with items from the Shame and Guilt After Trauma Scale at 2.5 and 8.5 years post-terror attack. Post-traumatic reactions and anxiety/depression at 8.5 years post-terror attack were measured with the University of California at Los Angeles PTSD Reaction Index and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, respectively. Associations between trauma-related shame/guilt and post-trauma psychopathology were analysed by multiple linear regressions. RESULTS: Trauma-related shame and guilt were prevalent among survivors at both 2.5 and 8.5 years post-terror attack. In unadjusted analyses, shame and guilt, at both time points, were significantly associated with post-traumatic stress reactions and anxiety/depression. Shame remained significantly associated with mental health when adjusted for guilt. Both earlier and current shame were uniquely related to mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Trauma-related shame and guilt may be prevalent in survivors of mass trauma several years after the event. Shame, in particular, may play an important role for long-term mental health. Clinicians may find it helpful to explicitly address shame in treatment of mass trauma survivors.

Childhood trauma and the use of opioids and other prescription analgesics in adolescence and young adulthood. The HUNT Study.

ABSTRACT: Opioid and nonopioid analgesics are commonly prescribed to young people to alleviate pain. Even short-term prescriptions increase the risk of persistent use and future misuse of potent analgesics, such as opioids. Childhood trauma exposure has been found to be related to pain conditions and to using more prescription analgesics. This large, prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association of a broad range of childhood trauma exposures with prescription rates for opioid and nonopioid analgesics in adolescence and young adulthood. Self-reported data on childhood trauma exposures from adolescents (aged 13-19 years) who participated in the Young-HUNT3 Study (2006-2008, n = 8199) were linked to data from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD, 2004-2021). We found that exposure to childhood trauma was consistently associated with higher prescription rates for opioids throughout adolescence and young adulthood. The highest incidence rate ratio (IRR) in adolescence was observed for sexual abuse (IRR 1.63, confidence interval [CI] 1.19-2.23). In young adulthood, the highest IRR was observed for physical violence (2.66, CI 2.27-3.12). The same overall pattern was observed for nonopioid analgesics. The more frequent prescriptions of opioid and nonopioid analgesics to participants exposed to childhood trauma suggests a higher symptom load of pain causing them to seek professional help with pain relief. Receiving potent analgesics is not without risk, and the likelihood of misuse may be elevated among trauma-exposed individuals. A trauma-informed approach to pain could be vital for guiding clinicians to the most effective and least harmful treatment for each patient.

Problematic alcohol use in young adults exposed to childhood trauma: The Trøndelag Health (HUNT) Study.

Problematic alcohol use (PAU) severely impacts the health, functioning, and long-term prospects of young people. Prior research indicates that childhood trauma exposure may be an important risk factor for PAU, but few longitudinal studies have looked at how specific trauma types influence this risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between childhood trauma exposure and PAU in a large, population-based cohort of young people. The study sample included 1,913 adolescents who participated in the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) between 2006 and 2008 (age range: 12-20) and completed follow-up 10 years later as young adults (age range: 22-32). The results revealed an increased risk of PAU in young adults exposed to childhood trauma, especially direct physical violence, OR = 2.38, [95% CI 1.56, 3.64]. Young adults who had witnessed violence, OR = 1.55, [95% CI 1.11, 2.17], or experienced an accident, disaster, or other traumatic event, OR = 1.60, [95% CI 1.19, 2.15], also had higher odds of PAU compared to those without such experiences. These associations remained consistent after adjusting for symptoms of headaches and pain as well as posttraumatic and general psychological distress as reported by the participants in adolescence. Future prevention efforts targeting PAU among adolescents and young adults should address violence and other trauma exposure as potential drivers of problematic drinking.

Prevalence and potency of trauma reminders 8.5 years after a terrorist attack.

Background: Empirical knowledge about the prevalence and potency of reminders several years post-trauma, and how experiences with reminders relate to mental health and functioning, is scarce.Objective: The aim of this study was threefold: (1) systematically describe the type and frequency of trauma reminders experienced by survivors 8.5 years after a terrorist attack; (2) explore the intensity and duration of reactions evoked by various reminders; and (3) examine whether experiences with trauma reminders are associated with psychological distress and level of functioning almost a decade post-trauma.Method: 289 survivors (51.2% females, M age = 27.7, SD = 4.6) of the 2011 massacre on Utøya island, Norway, were interviewed 8.5 years post-terror. Participants were presented with a list of ten potential trauma reminders and asked to rate how frequently they had experienced each one in the past month, and the intensity and duration of the reactions evoked. Current posttraumatic reactions were measured using the UCLA PTSD-RI and the HSCL-8. Associations between experiences with reminders, psychological distress, and functioning, were analysed by linear regressions.Results: At 8.5 years post-terror, approximately 90% of the participants had experienced trauma reminders within the past month (35.6% often or very often). Almost 30% had become distressed, afraid, sad, or experienced bodily reactions to a great or very great extent. The vast majority reported that the reactions only lasted for a few minutes or hours. Frequency of exposure to reminders, and the intensity of the reactions evoked, were significantly associated with psychological distress. Frequency of exposure to trauma reminders was negatively related to the survivors' level of functioning.Conclusions: Trauma reminders can still be a central source of psychological distress and impaired functioning among survivors almost a decade post-trauma. While everyone who is directly exposed to a terrorist attack does not need psychotherapy, most would probably benefit from psychoeducation about reminders.

Ca. 90% had experienced trauma reminders almost a decade post-terror.Reminders can be a central source of distress and impaired functioning many years post-trauma.Most people directly exposed to a terror attack would probably benefit from psychoeducation about reminders.

Killing pain? A prospective population-based study on trauma exposure in childhood as predictor for frequent use of over-the-counter analgesics in young adulthood. The HUNT study.

Frequent and increasing use of over-the-counter analgesics (OTCA) is a public health concern. Pain conditions and psychological distress are related to frequent OTCA use, and as exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTE) in childhood appears to increase risk of experiencing such symptoms, we aimed to assess childhood PTEs and related symptoms in adolescence as predictors for frequent OTCA use in young adulthood. Prospective population survey data were used (n = 2947, 59.1% female, 10-13 years follow-up). Exposure to PTEs, symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression, musculoskeletal pain and headache were assessed in adolescence (13-19 years). Use of OTCA was assessed in young adulthood (22-32 years) and use of OTCA to treat musculoskeletal pain and headache served as separate outcomes in ordinal logistic regression analyses. Overall, exposure to childhood PTEs, particularly direct interpersonal violence, was significantly and consistently related to more frequent use of OTCA to treat musculoskeletal pain and headaches in young adulthood. Adjusting for psychological symptoms and pain attenuated associations, indicating that these symptoms are of importance for the relationship between traumatic events and OTCA use. These findings emphasize the need to address symptomatology and underlying causes at an early age.

Terror leaves adolescents behind: Identifying risk and protective factors for high-school completion among survivors of terrorism.

Terror exposure increases the risk of somatic and psychological health problems in survivors. Yet, knowledge of how such exposure affects survivors' ability to stay in school is lacking. This study examined whether exposure to the 2011 Utøya terrorist attack in Norway impacted survivors' ability to complete high school. Further, it aimed to identify important peri- and posttraumatic risk and protective factors. Interview data from the Utøya study, collected 4-5 months postterror, were linked to individual educational registry data for 265 survivors. Chi-square tests and ordinal logistic regression analyses were used to examine (a) high school completion among younger survivors (n = 185, age range: 13-18 years, 52.4% female) compared to both older survivors (i.e., who had the possibility of completing high school before the terror attacks; n = 80, age range: 19-21 years, 40.0% female) and the national average and (b) associations between high school completion and physical injury, posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), somatic symptoms, and social support among younger survivors. Younger survivors were significantly less likely to complete high school on time. Among younger adolescents, physical injury, aOR = 0.36, 95% CI [0.16, 0.81]; higher-level PTSS, aOR = 0.54, 95% CI [0.33, 0.88]; and somatic symptoms, aOR = 0.51, 95% CI [0.29, 0.91], lowered the likelihood of on-time completion. Terror exposure in adolescence adversely affects long-term educational functioning in young survivors, which can severely hamper their future prospects. These findings reinforce the need for trauma-sensitive teaching and educator-provided support for adolescents exposed to trauma.

"I've kept going" - a multisite repeated cross-sectional study of healthcare workers' pride in personal performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: For healthcare workers, working through a pandemic may include both challenges, such as coping with increased demands and a lack of control, and rewards, such as experiencing a sense of achievement and meaningfulness. In this study, we explore the accomplishments healthcare workers themselves are proud of achieving at work, in order to elucidate the positive aspects of working through a pandemic. METHODS: In June 2020 (T1), December 2020 (T2), and May 2021 (T3), healthcare workers (n = 1,996) at four Norwegian hospitals participated in a web-based survey assessing job strain, psychological health, and support during the pandemic. The survey included the open-ended question "During the past two weeks, what have you been feeling proud of achieving at work?". Responses (1,046) to this item were analyzed using conventional content analysis, which resulted in 13 subthemes under 6 themes. RESULTS: For some, pride was found in their professional identity and dedication to their work. Others took pride in specific achievements, such as juggling their own needs (e.g., health, private life) with those of the workplace, contributing to cohesion and collaboration, their ability to learn and adjust, in being a useful resource at work, and in their efforts towards developing the organization and workplace. IMPLICATIONS: The current findings shed light on what healthcare workers feel proud of achieving in their day-to-day work. Assessment of these factors provides insight on both positive and negative aspects of working clinically during a pandemic, and highlights specific targets for building sustainable and rewarding work environments for healthcare workers.

Exposure to traumatic events and use of over-the-counter analgesics in adolescents: cross-sectional findings from the Young-HUNT study.

OBJECTIVE: Frequent and increasing use of over-the-counter analgesics (OTCA) among adolescents is a public health concern. Prior research indicates that adolescents exposed to traumatic events may be at increased risk of suffering from headaches and musculoskeletal pain. In this study, we assessed the association between trauma exposure and use of OTCA for headaches and musculoskeletal pain. DESIGN: A cross-sectional population study among adolescents, self-reported data on trauma exposure, pain and use of OTCA. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: All 10 608 adolescents aged 13-19 years in a region of Norway were invited in this school-based survey, participation rate was 76%. OUTCOME MEASURE: Frequency of OTCA use for headache and musculoskeletal pain served as separate outcomes in ordinal logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Trauma exposure was significantly and consistently related to higher frequency use of OTCA for headache and musculoskeletal pain, of which associations for bullying (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.50 to 2.12, and OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.70 to 2.66), physical violence (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.78 and OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.45 to 2.32) and sexual abuse (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.55 to 2.18 and OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.90) were particularly strong. A dose-response relationship was found between interpersonal violence and OTCA use for headache (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.66 for one type and OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.53 to 2.14 for two or more types) and musculoskeletal pain (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.91 to 3.00 for one type and OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.91 to 3.00 for two or more types). The associations remained significant after adjustment for pain, although an attenuation in strength was observed. CONCLUSION: Trauma exposed adolescents use OTCA for headaches and musculoskeletal pain more frequently than those not exposed. The higher frequency of pain conditions among trauma exposed only partially explained their more frequent OTCA use, indicating an increased risk relating to features beyond frequency of pain.

Killing pain?: a population-based registry study of the use of prescription analgesics, anxiolytics, and hypnotics among all children, adolescents and young adults in Norway from 2004 to 2019.

The ongoing opioid epidemic has been a global concern for years, increasingly due to its heavy toll on young people's lives and prospects. Few studies have investigated trends in use of the wider range of drugs prescribed to alleviate pain, psychological distress and insomnia in children, adolescents and young adults. Our aim was to study dispensation as a proxy for use of prescription analgesics, anxiolytics and hypnotics across age groups (0-29 years) and sex over the last 15 years in a large, representative general population. The study used data from a nationwide prescription database, which included information on all drugs dispensed from any pharmacy in Norway from 2004 through 2019. Age-specific trends revealed that the prevalence of use among children and adolescents up to age 14 was consistently low, with the exception of a substantial increase in use of melatonin from age 5. From age 15-29, adolescents and young adults used more prescription drugs with increasing age at all time points, especially analgesics and drugs with higher potential for misuse. Time trends also revealed that children from age 5 were increasingly dispensed melatonin over time, while adolescents from age 15 were increasingly dispensed analgesics, including opioids, gabapentinoids and paracetamol. In contrast, use of benzodiazepines and z-hypnotics slightly declined in young adults over time. Although trends were similar for both sexes, females used more prescription drugs than their male peers overall. The upsurge in use of prescription analgesics, anxiolytics and hypnotics among young people is alarming.Trial registration The study is part of the overarching Killing Pain project. The rationale behind the Killing Pain research was pre-registered through ClinicalTrials.gov on April 7, 2020. Registration number NCT04336605; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT04336605 .

Healthcare utilization after mass trauma: a register-based study of consultations with primary care and mental health services in survivors of terrorism.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge on healthcare utilization after mass trauma is needed to strengthen the public health preparedness to such incidents. Using register-based data, this study had a unique opportunity to investigate how young survivors' use of primary care physicians (PCP) and mental health services (MHS) changed after a terrorist attack. METHODS: We examined register-based data on PCP and MHS consultations among 255 survivors (52% male) of the 2011 Utøya youth camp attack in Norway 3 years before and after the attack, and their reason for encounter with the PCP according to the International Classification for Primary Care (ICPC- 2). RESULTS: The PCP and MHS consultation rates (CR) were higher in female than male survivors both acutely and at long-term. The mean yearly CRs increased from 2.25 to 4.41 for PCP and 1.77 to 13.59 for MHS the year before and after the attack in female survivors, and from 1.45 to 3.65 for PCP and 1.02 to 11.77 for MHS in male survivors. The third year post-attack CRs for PCP were 3.55 and 2.00; and CRs for MHS were 5.24 and 2.30 in female and male survivors, respectively. Among female survivors, 76% consulted PCP and 12% MHS the year preceding the attack; post-attack 93% consulted PCP and 73% MHS the first year; decreasing to 87 and 40% the third year. Among male survivors, 61% consulted PCP and 7% MHS the year preceding the attack; post-attack 86% consulted PCP and 61% MHS the first year, and 67 and 31% the third year. As for PCP consultations, there was a particular increase in psychological reasons for encounter following the attack. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that it is important to anticipate an increased healthcare utilization several years following mass trauma, particularly of MHS. Both PCP and MHS practitioners played important roles in providing healthcare for psychological problems in young survivors of terrorism in a country with universal and largely publicly financed healthcare and a gatekeeping system. The healthcare utilization could be different in countries with other health systems or psychosocial care responses to mass trauma.

Insomnia in survivors 8.5 years after the Utøya Island terrorist attack: transition from late adolescence to early adulthood - the Utøya study.

Background: Insomnia is a global health concern, associated with many mental and physical health conditions. Prevalence of insomnia is reported to increase during adolescence and early adulthood. High levels of insomnia are also reported in adolescents up to 2.5 years after a traumatic event. What is less well understood is the prevalence of insomnia in a trauma exposed population transitioning from adolescence to adulthood. Objective: To assess insomnia in the survivors in the 2011 Utøya Island terrorist attack, 2.5 years and 8.5 years after the attack when the majority of survivors were transitioning from late adolescence to early adulthood. Method: Participants were 336 survivors of the Utøya Island attack who completed the Utøya Study 2.5 years (T3) and 8.5 years (T4) after the attack. Participants completed a face-to-face interview including the Bergen Insomnia Scale (BIS), which was used to assess insomnia symptoms and prevalence of meeting diagnostic criteria for insomnia. Results: Insomnia was indicated in 47.7% of survivors 8.5 years after the attack. Insomnia prevalence did not significantly change from 2.5 to 8.5 years after the attack, though insomnia symptoms (BIS sum score) were found to increase. Age was negatively associated with insomnia at T4, with older age being associated with less insomnia. No significant sex difference was found in insomnia prevalence at T4. Conclusion: Almost a decade after the Utøya Island terrorist attack, nearly a half of the young survivors in our study reported insomnia and typical age- and sex-related differences in sleep were not always seen. This rate is almost double what is reported in the general population (20-30%) indicating a high level of unmet need in this population. The implications of such sleep disruption during a critical time for physical, mental, social and cognitive development are far reaching.

Antecedentes: el insomnio es un problema de salud mundial, asociado con muchas afecciones de salud mental y física. Se reporta que la prevalencia del insomnio aumenta durante la adolescencia y la edad adulta temprana. También se reportan niveles elevados de insomnio en adolescentes hasta 2,5 años después de un evento traumático. Lo que es menos comprendido es la prevalencia del insomnio en una población expuesta al trauma que pasa de la adolescencia a la edad adulta.Objetivo: Evaluar el insomnio en los sobrevivientes del ataque terrorista de la isla de Utøya en 2011, 2.5 años y 8.5 años después del ataque, cuando la mayoría de los sobrevivientes pasaban de la adolescencia tardía a la adultez temprana.Método: Los participantes fueron 336 supervivientes del ataque de la isla de Utøya que completaron el estudio de Utøya 2,5 años (T3) y 8,5 años (T4) después del ataque. Los participantes completaron una entrevista cara a cara que incluía la Escala de insomnio de Bergen (BIS), que se utilizó para evaluar los síntomas de insomnio y la prevalencia de cumplir con los criterios de diagnóstico para el insomnio.Resultados: Se descubrió insomnio en el 47,7% de los supervivientes 8,5 años después del ataque. La prevalencia del insomnio no cambió significativamente de 2,5 a 8,5 años después del ataque, aunque se encontró que los síntomas de insomnio (puntuación suma BIS) aumentaron. La edad se asoció negativamente con el insomnio en T4, y la edad avanzada se asoció con menos insomnio. No se encontraron diferencias de sexo significativas en la prevalencia de insomnio en T4.Conclusión: Casi una década después del ataque terrorista en la isla de Utøya, casi la mitad de los jóvenes supervivientes de nuestro estudio reportaron insomnio y no siempre se observaron diferencias típicas en el sueño relacionadas con la edad y el sexo. Esta tasa es casi el doble de lo que se informa en la población general (20­30%), lo que indica un alto nivel de necesidad insatisfecha en esta población. Las implicaciones de tal interrupción del sueño durante un momento crítico para el desarrollo físico, mental, social y cognitivo son de gran alcance.

The longitudinal association between symptoms of posttraumatic stress and complicated grief: A random intercepts cross-lag analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Knowledge about the temporal relationship between disturbed grief and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may have important implications for clinicians working with bereaved trauma survivors. We aimed to investigate the longitudinal association between symptoms of complicated grief and PTSD in a bereaved trauma-exposed sample. METHOD: In total, 275 bereaved survivors (M age = 19.3, SD = 4.6 years; 47.3% females) of the 2011 massacre on Utøya Island, Norway, participated in semistructured interviews 4-5 months (Time 1 [T1]), 14-15 months (Time 2 [T2]), and 30-32 months (Time 3 [T3]) posttrauma. Complicated grief was measured using the Brief Grief Questionnaire, and posttraumatic stress reactions using the University of California at Los Angeles PTSD Reaction Index. To explore associations between symptoms of complicated grief and PTSD over time, we used a random intercepts cross-lagged panel model. RESULTS: The participants had lost a close friend (n = 256) and/or a family member/partner (n = 19) in the attack. We found a strong correlation between stable individual differences in symptoms of complicated grief and PTSD across the three time-points. PTSD symptoms at T2 predicted complicated grief reactions at T3, but not vice versa. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that targeting PTSD symptoms among trauma-exposed bereaved may hinder later development of complicated grief. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Does event centrality mediate the effect of peritraumatic reactions on post-traumatic growth in survivors of a terrorist attack?

BACKGROUND: While self-reported post-traumatic growth (PTG) has been documented after a wide variety of potentially traumatic experiences, we need more knowledge on the mechanisms behind PTG to gain a better understanding of this phenomenon. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the hypothesized mechanism of perceived event centrality as a mediator on the pathway between peritraumatic reactions and later PTG. METHOD: In total, 204 survivors of the 2011 massacre on Utøya island, participated 4-5 months (T1), 14-15 months (T2), and 30-32 months (T3) post-terror. We applied counterfactually based causal mediation analysis to explore the potential mediating role of survivors' perceived centrality (T2) in linking their peritraumatic reactions (T1) and self-reported PTG (T3). RESULTS: The vast majority of the survivors reported experiencing some positive changes post-terror, and we found a positive, significant association between survivor's peritraumatic reactions, perceived event centrality and self-reported growth. However, we did not find that centrality significantly mediated the longitudinal association between peritraumatic reactions and later PTG. CONCLUSION: Reports of PTG are common post-terror, and peritraumatic reactions and perceptions of centrality may help explain individual differences in trauma survivors' level of PTG. Perceived event centrality about one year post-trauma does not appear to explain the relationship between initial reactions to trauma and subsequent PTG.

Antecedentes: Si bien el crecimiento postraumático (CPT) auto-reportado se ha documentado después de una amplia variedad de experiencias potencialmente traumáticas, necesitamos más conocimiento sobre los mecanismos detrás del CPT para obtener una mejor comprensión de este fenómeno.Objetivo: Nuestro objetivo fue investigar el mecanismo hipotético de la centralidad percibida del evento como mediador en la vía entre las reacciones peritraumáticas y el CPT posterior.Método: En total, 204 sobrevivientes de la masacre de 2011 en la isla de Utoya, participaron 4-5 meses (T1), 14-15 meses (T2) y 30-32 meses (T3) después del ataque terrorista. Aplicamos un análisis de mediación causal contrafactual para explorar el posible papel mediador de la centralidad percibida (T2) de los sobrevivientes al vincular sus reacciones peritraumáticas (T1) y el CPT autoinformado (T3).Resultados: La gran mayoría de los sobrevivientes informaron haber experimentado algunos cambios positivos después del ataque terrorista, y encontramos una asociación positiva y significativa entre las reacciones peritraumáticas del sobreviviente, la centralidad del evento percibido y el crecimiento autoinformado. Sin embargo, no encontramos que la centralidad mediara significativamente la asociación longitudinal entre las reacciones peritraumáticas y el CPT posterior.Conclusión: Los reportes de CPT son comunes después del terrorismo, y las reacciones peritraumáticas y las percepciones de centralidad pueden ayudar a explicar las diferencias individuales en el nivel de CPT de los sobrevivientes de trauma. La centralidad percibida del evento aproximadamente un año después del trauma no parece explicar la relación entre las reacciones iniciales al trauma y el CPT posterior.

The association of PTSD symptom severity with amygdala nuclei volumes in traumatized youths.

The amygdala is a core component in neurobiological models of stress and stress-related pathologies, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While numerous studies have reported increased amygdala activity following traumatic stress exposure and in PTSD, the findings regarding amygdala volume have been mixed. One reason for these mixed findings may be that the amygdala has been considered as a homogenous entity, while it in fact consists of several nuclei with unique cellular and connectivity profiles. Here, we investigated amygdala nuclei volumes of the basolateral and the centrocorticomedial complex in relation to PTSD symptom severity in 47 young survivors from the 2011 Norwegian terror attack 24-36 months post-trauma. PTSD symptoms were assessed 4-5, 14-15 and 24-36 months following the trauma. We found that increased PTSD symptom severity 24-36 months post-trauma was associated with volumetric reductions of all basolateral as well as the central and the medial nuclei. However, only the lateral nucleus was associated with longitudinal symptom development, and mediated the association between 4-5 months and 24-36 months post-trauma symptoms. The results suggest that the amygdala nuclei may be differentially associated with cross-sectional and longitudinal measures of PTSD symptom severity. As such, investigations of amygdala total volume may not provide an adequate index of the association between amygdala and stress-related mental illness.

Early Pain and Other Somatic Symptoms Predict Posttraumatic Stress Reactions in Survivors of Terrorist Attacks: The Longitudinal Utøya Cohort Study.

Survivors of traumatic events commonly suffer from long-term pain and related somatic symptomatology. To test the predominant hypothesis that survivors' pain comprises sequela of persistent posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), we assessed the sequential order of symptom development among young survivors of a terrorist attack. All 490 survivors of the 2011 Utøya (Norway) attacks were invited to the longitudinal Utøya cohort study; 355 (72.4%) participated. The mean survivor age was 19.3 years (SD = 4.6) and 169 were female (47.6%). Somatic symptoms, including headache, other pain and fatigue, and PTSS, were measured 4-5 months (T1), 14-16 months (T2), and 32-33 months (T3) after the attack. Longitudinal associations between somatic symptoms and PTSS were assessed in cross-lagged structural equation model (SEM) analyses, which were adjusted for known confounders. Higher pain levels and other somatic symptoms at T1 consistently predicted PTSS at T2 in SEM analyses, r = .473, p < .001. Beyond this early-to-intermediate posttraumatic phase, somatic symptoms did not significantly predict PTSS: T2-T3, r = .024, p = .831; T1-T3, r = -.074, p = .586. PTSS did not significantly predict later somatic symptomatology at T1-T2, r = .093, p = .455; T2-T3, r = .272, p = .234; or T1-T3, r = -.279, p = .077. The findings indicate that survivors' early pain and related somatic symptoms strongly and consistently predict later psychopathology. After severe psychological trauma, early interventions may need to address individuals' pain to hinder chronification.

Child abuse and physical health: A population-based study on physical health complaints among adolescents and young adults.

Aims: To investigate whether adolescents and young adults with a history of child abuse had more physical health complaints compared to their unexposed peers. We also aimed to estimate associations between different child abuse types with physical health complaints and associations between the number of child abuse types and physical health complaints. Methods: This population-based telephone survey over two waves included 506 adolescents and young adults exposed to child abuse and 504 non-abused peers aged 16-33 years. We applied linear regression analyses to investigate associations between child abuse types and physical health complaints, unadjusted and mutually adjusted for co-occurring abuse, and to investigate how the number of child abuse types associated with physical health complaints. Results: Participants exposed to child abuse reported significantly more physical health complaints. The child abuse types strongly co-occurred. When adjusting for co-occurring child abuse, only sexual and emotional abuse were significantly associated with physical health complaints. Physical health complaints increased with the higher number of child abuse types experienced. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that exposure to abuse, particularly sexual and emotional, during childhood predicts physical health complaints in adolescence and early adulthood. In a public health perspective, early identification of child abuse may be beneficial in preventing physical health complaints later in life.