The importance of trauma in psychiatric practice

Jon Laugharne

The importance of trauma in psychiatric practice

Jon Laugharne

University of Western Australia, Australia

: Int J Ment Health Psychiatry

Abstract

Psychological trauma early in life is increasingly being shown through research to have aetiological significance across the range of psychiatric diagnoses, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders and the psychoses. Furthermore, the need for psychiatric services to involve a trauma-informed approach to avoid re-traumatization of patients is being acknowledged by leaders in the field. In this presentation I will summarize the evidence underpinning these developments and outline the psycho-biology of psychological trauma, how it relates to major diagnoses and how it can inform new and innovative approaches to management and treatment within mental health services.