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Start date: 2020Subject: search.filters.subject.Post-traumatic stress disorder

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    An exploration of factors that have facilitated and constrained access, adoption and availability of mind-body therapies as adjunctive interventions to treat trauma-related conditions in Aotearoa, New Zealand : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Albany, Aotearoa New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2025-06-29) Standing, Meredith
    This qualitative study explores factors that facilitate and constrain the use of mind-body interventions to treat trauma-related conditions in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). The phenomenon explored references mind-body therapies as an adjunctive treatment option with a focus on trauma-sensitive yoga. This study is intended to examine mind-body interventions as a complementary treatment approach and augmentation of interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapies and other validated, evidence-based approaches to treating trauma-related conditions. There is a significant body of literature that supports the use of talk therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, to treat symptoms associated with trauma-related mental health conditions. Recent research has revealed that in many cases, trauma cannot be resolved through interventions that utilise talk therapies alone, as trauma, according to some theorists, is located not only in the core of the brain but also within the body. A practical treatment approach to mitigate individual experiences of trauma is to integrate Western psychological talk therapy approaches with those that focus on calming the nervous system, such as trauma-sensitive yoga, romiromi, mindfulness, and somatic experiencing. The current study highlights factors across the social system that have facilitated and constrained the access, adoption, and availability of mind-body therapies as complementary approaches for treating trauma-related conditions in the NZ context. Findings in the current study highlight that in the NZ context, few factors have facilitated access, adoption and availability of mind-body therapies as adjunctive interventions to treat trauma-related mental health conditions. A more significant number of factors, it appears, have constrained access, adoption and availability of mind-body therapies. Findings illuminate an overall positive attitude toward the utility of mind-body therapies as adjunctive treatments for trauma-related conditions, which highlights the potential for greater use of such interventions in the NZ setting.
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    Buffering and facilitative factors for posttraumatic stress and flourishing among New Zealand Defence Force personnel : a longitudinal study : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024-11-01) Bryson (Allen), Daniel
    Substantial heterogeneity exists in individual responses to trauma. Reactions to operational deployments by service personnel appear to be no exception. The present research has sought to explore the links that potentially traumatic deployment experiences (PTDEs) have with posttraumatic stress (PTS) and flourishing. Further, the impacts of adaptive health behaviours (physical activity, nutrition, and sleep) and social support (from close others or from military leadership) upon the relationships that PTDEs have with PTS and flourishing were explored. Surveys were conducted 3 years apart with 313 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) postdeployment personnel and reports were analysed. A positive relationship was found between PTDEs and PTS, and a nonsignificant relationship between PTDEs and flourishing. Significant associations were also found between 1) adaptive health behaviours, social support, and leadership support, and 2) PTS and flourishing, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Mixed support was found for the moderating effects of social support and adaptive health behaviours on the relationships that PTDEs had with PTS and flourishing. Finally, PTS was found to moderate the relationship between PTDEs and flourishing. Conclusions on how the present findings converge and build upon past research, and the unique contributions of leadership support, as well as the effects of PTS on the relationship between PTDEs with flourishing, are discussed.
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    The impact of cumulative trauma and self-regulation on posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, and suicidal ideation in a sample of New Zealand firefighters : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2023) Bertram, Jeannette
    This thesis presents a research study that aimed to explore the levels of psychological distress in a sample of New Zealand (NZ) firefighters. While there is a growing body of literature that recognizes the importance of first responders’ psychological distress, there is still a paucity of research, especially on firefighters and in particular firefighters in NZ. A thorough search of literature did not reveal any quantitative research on NZ firefighters and factors contributing to and alleviating psychological distress. This study aimed to build on previous international findings and examine the presence of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression, and suicidal ideation (SI) in a sample of NZ firefighters, as well as investigate the impact of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and self-regulation on this presence. First, a scoping review was undertaken of the existing evidence of the precursors to SI in firefighters. A questionnaire was developed incorporating these factors. Then, data was collected from 220 NZ firefighters through an online survey. As predicted, PTSS, depression, and SI were found to be significantly higher in NZ firefighters than in the general population. While career firefighters were found to be exposed to significantly higher cumulative trauma exposure than volunteer firefighters, no significant differences were found in the levels of psychological distress between the two groups. PTSS and depression showed a significantly positive relationship with SI. Multiple significant positive correlations were found between psychological distress and demographic and occupational characteristics. Lastly, better self-regulation skills were found to be associated with less psychological distress and moderated the relationship between cumulative trauma exposure and psychological distress.