Traumatic stress

Lead

Dr Jon Bisson
Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry

Summary

Traumatic events occur commonly and can precipitate a variety of psychosocial difficulties, including major psychiatric disorders such as PTSD.  Chronic PTSD which has a lifetime prevalence of around 7%, causes considerable distress to the individual and those around them, and interferes with social, educational and occupational functioning.  The health gains and economic savings to be accrued from the effective prevention and treatment of PTSD are likely to be considerable.  Research in this area is likely to address the Welsh Assembly Government’s priority policy areas of prevention and early intervention, organisation and delivery of services and chronic condition management. 

The Traumatic Stress Clinical Research Group aims to develop effective and cost-effective interventions for the prevention and treatment of psychosocial difficulties following exposure to traumatic incidents, with a particular focus on post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Group members have expertise in both quantitative and qualitative methodologies and include researchers with experience of basic science work through to individuals who have performed studies relating to the development and evaluation of interventions, service delivery and dissemination.  It is envisaged that the research group will develop psychological and pharmacological interventions to prevent psychosocial difficulties following traumatic events and to treat established psychiatric disorders such as PTSD.  The research methods will include both qualitative and quantitative approaches and adopt a translational approach to the development and implementation of effective and cost-effective interventions.  In addition to evaluating interventions the group will develop complex methodological approaches to evaluate them. 

Contact details

Department of Psychological Medicine
Monmouth House
University Hospital of Wales
Heath Park
Cardiff
CF14 4XW

Tel: 029 2074 4534
Email: bissonji@cardiff.ac.uk


Papers published

Developing a care pathway for advance decisions and powers of attorney
The British Journal of Psychiatry, 194, 55-61. 2009