Citation

McCormack L, Ballinger S, Valentine M, Swaab L. Traumatology 2022; 28(2): 245-255.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Green Cross Academy of Traumatology, Publisher APA Journals)

DOI

10.1037/trm0000310

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Individuals who experience complex traumatic events are potentially at risk of long-term psychological and emotional dysfunction. However, contemporary theories of posttraumatic growth, and the construct of positive psychology, reconceptualize traumatic exposure as a springboard for growth, as well as precursor to distress. Through a bibliometric analysis, the aim of this study was to assess the volume and characteristics of research output over time, inclusive of the constructs of complex trauma and posttraumatic growth. A descriptive repeat cross-sectional study of publications was conducted from the databases PsycINFO, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Psychology and Behavioural Sciences across the time-periods 1995-1998, 2005-2008, and 2015-2018. Exclusion criteria included a lack of reference to both constructs. Authors jointly assessed article relevance for inclusion. For each study, classifications included database, country of research institution, country of participants, type of trauma experienced, and trauma terminology. A total of 141 articles met criteria for review.

FINDINGS included an increase in output of publications addressing complex trauma and posttraumatic growth across the selected time periods. Furthermore, research outcomes from the United States concerning war veterans dominated the field. Relative to descriptive studies, there were very few intervention studies. Despite a growing interest in the conceptualization of posttraumatic growth in the aftermath of complex trauma, cross-cultural trauma, and types of complex trauma, particularly interventional studies to inform therapy were found to be absent. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Language: en