When their world falls apart:Adolescents trajectory from PTSD to post-traumatic growth, Athen Psychiatric Conference, Dec. 2, 2012

These are my rough notes from this terrific lecture. The speaker was amazing. The research was a profound work of genius and love. Great presentation. Marvellous learning.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Psychiatric Comorbidity and Complications
The First Interdisciplinary Congress "Psychiatry and Related Sciences" Chairs: I Reznick (Israel) D. Pompadatou (Greece)

 When their world falls apart: Adolescents trajectory from trauma to growth
Danai Papadatou, PHD, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Nursing, University of Athens 

Bus was hit by truck in Greece carrying students to event
Merimna - Society for the Care of Children and Familes facing Illness and Death
293 - adolescents assessed for PTSD 29 adolescents involved in the accident and lost their peers These 29 offered to help other adolescents - developed a documentary video
Study in particular - Overall trajectory - until 3 years post accident 5 girls and 3 boys (7 wre in the bus of the accident, 1 did not attend the excursion)
In depth interviews Trajectory trauma to growth
Living in despair in a shattered world - despair of peer loss, despair of meaninglessness- videos of the adolescents - describing endless crying, bad thoughts, confusion, -PTSD symptamatology - hyperalert, afraid to be left alone, times I blamed myself, why did this happen to us, we are always left with a ‘why’
 - Emotional and social withdrawal psychological assessment at 2 months following showed significant ‘infectious’ effect with all the other adolescents in the community showing symptamatology
- Collecting my pieces - shift from social withdrawal to reconnection with others shift from avoidance to elaboration and exposure shift from inactivity to activity
-REmembering and moving on - deceased would not be forgotten

- Processes and resources that helped Supportive relationships - could facilitate process - were less likely to share with parents but more likely to look elsewhere where they would be able to be open (parents were important though)
-Group activities - counselling, peers, - a student described participation allowing her to construct a story and reconstruct it , transcending it, it was a dark story to begin, from ‘difficult days’ to ‘new beginnings’
-making of a DVD ‘in memory’ Protest against RTA - (road traffic accidents) - letters to mayor and minister of education - important to have voice heard 5 day school excursion by bus - exposed them to fears and allowed them to overcome idea that their would be repeat
-Community rituals - Memorial Day, read poems and planted trees in school yards, making of a greek maze of the struggle of life

 Post traumatic growth indicated in video record of the students -I’ve matured -I’ve started to believe in myself -I believe I’ve become a better person, more rational, more concerned about othr -I became more sensitive, i don’t get so easily irritated -i’ve learned not to hide -experience a deep love -life goes on, life is sweet and you must not stop, must go on

 1.Qualitative studies shed light on the experience of trauma and experience of growth
2.PTSD and PTG are best understood in relation to interpersonal and social factors
3.Coping with trauma involves a socialization process -progressive discovery of a personal voice -validation of experience by others -renewed sense of belonging -co construction Community Mental Health and Ecological Model -empowers -educates and sensitizes -co creates interventions

 This was an excellent presentation, engaging, well conceived research, truly incredible work and documentation.

 The whole lecture series on PTSD was profoundly well thought out.

Home Learned Rules

1. There's more to living in a home than just you.

2. Everyone has to do their part to make the whole that you take a part from.

3. Clean up any mess you make.

4. Leave tools and such the way you' d want to find them.

5. Flush the toilet after you use it. If it don't flush all away, flush again. Pee in the bowl. Poop in the hole. Use toilet paper to wipe your bum and wipe the other parts to if you dribble or miss.

6. Brush your teeth at least two or three or four times a day, after meals, and before you go to bed to sleep. It's good to floss.

7. Be quiet for a change, take a little time out of the day and be still, read something inspirational like the Bible and think how what you've read applies to you and those around you.

8. Wash your hands after you've been in any dirt, several times a day, more if you've a cold and certainly after you've used the toilet and before you prepare food and especially before you are going to shake hands with me or my kind. Shower or bathe daily or at least every week, and wash your hair. Use soap and shampoo whether you think you need it or not. Don't try to put deodorant over what smells bad already.

9. Get out of bed in the morning and go to bed at night unless you're working shift work. If you keep other hours than the sun or those around, respect their sleep since you're probably the one that is out of sync with the world if you're sleeping late in the day.

10. Keep the kitchen clean, wiping counters with detergent and doing dishes and helping out after family or group functions offering to help whenever because since you joined in the fun, you can join in the clean up. Vacuum or sweep and do your laundry at least once every week or two, so your clothes and your living area, be it a room or more, is clean. Cleanliness prevents disease and disease carrying bugs and rodents. You don't leave clothes on the floor so what's been on your feet or shoes don't end up on your clothes. Take out the garbage daily or weekly and don't leave any old food or foodstuffs lying around.

11. Keep a positive attitude. Being negative is easy. It's an effort for everyone, not just you, to be positive so make the effort. Nobody has a monopoly on suffering. Grow up and get over the attitude already.

12. Respect others time and be sensitive to those around you. I'm sorry if you don't have running water or detergent or a Bible or a family and hope that you'll have what you need one day and others won't waste what you want.