Patrícia Correia-Santos

Youth who have been exposed to potentially traumatic events are at risk of developing chronic and severe adjustment problems. However, some youth exposed to potentially traumatic events exhibit better-than-expected adaptation. Person-centered analyses, based on multiple criteria for adaptive behavior and adversity, are well-suited to empirically identifying different patterns of adaptation among high-risk youth. Data from 381 youth from three at-risk subgroups in Portugal were collected using self-reported measures of trauma history, trauma-related symptomatology, coping skills, and perceived social support. Distinct classes of adaptation after traumatic experiences were examined with latent class analysis. Four classes were identified: (a) trauma-related psychopathology class (13.6%), (b) adaptive resilience class (36.8%), (c) low resources class (11.4%), and (d) high resources class (38.2%). Trauma-related psychopathology class and low resources class were characterized by high levels of maladjustment. Similarly to the low resources class, the trauma-related psychopathology class reported a significantly higher likelihood of trauma-related psychopathology and higher levels of problem-solving skills. The adaptive resilience class and high resources class also reported lower levels of maladjustment, and the high resources class reported higher levels of coping skills and lower levels of externalizing problems than any other class. Clinicians treating children's internalizing mental health or externalizing behavior problems should assess trauma history and trauma-related psychopathology, as well as protective resources that may enhance resilience such as skills for problem solving and social support seeking. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A meta-analysis published in 2015 demonstrated a significant association between bullying victimization (BV) in school and workplace settings and the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, a recent theoretical review showed that the consequences of BV are much more complex than the traditional PTSD criteria. The authors argue that two potential diagnoses ought to be considered in the context of BV: developmental trauma disorder (DTD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). This systematic review aims to synthesize the results regarding the relationship between BV and these two complex trauma symptoms. Following PRISMA guidelines, systematic searches were conducted in seven electronic databases in March 2024. We searched for Portuguese or English quantitative published studies, or unpublished quantitative master’s or doctoral theses. In total, 1056 studies were identified, and 12 were considered eligible. Ten were cross-sectional, and two were longitudinal. Five had youth samples, whereas seven had adult samples. Most studies presented a low risk of bias. No studies were found that aimed to assess the relationship between BV and DTD symptoms. In contrast, a significant positive relationship between BV and CPTSD symptoms in youth and adult populations was found. BV was particularly associated with CPTSD, but not with PTSD in both populations. Only one study found that BV was not a predictor of CPTSD status in a Danish adult population. The results reveal that BV might be associated with a more complex symptomatology. However, it is still not possible to assert the causal link between BV and DTD/CPTSD.

Police officers face chronic occupational stress, yet reliable estimates of their suicidal behaviors remain scarce. This meta-analysis assessed the pooled prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts among police officers across various time frames. A systematic search of five databases (2000-2025) identified 36 eligible studies from 16 countries, encompassing 62,663 officers. Random-effects meta-analysis estimated lifetime prevalence rates of 21% for suicidal ideation (95% CI: 15.2%-28.9%), 6% for suicide planning (95% CI: 4.1%-7.2%), and 3% for suicide attempts (95% CI: 1.1%-7.8%). These rates often exceeded those in the general population. Findings also revealed an 11% decrease in lifetime ideation over the past two decades and a 23% reduction in risk between ages 33 and 50. Results underscore the urgent need for targeted mental health research and increased institutional support from political and law enforcement entities.

Childhood trauma has been associated with criminal behaviour and a variety of psychopathologies. Furthermore, it is known that emotional dysregulation (ED) predicts anxiety and depression and can be a product of traumatic experiences. In order to develop effective interventions for offenders’ rehabilitation and prevent recidivism, it is essential to fully understand their mental health and its relation with previous child trauma experiences and ED. This study involved a sample of 100 male inmates incarcerated in seven different prisons in the northern region of Portugal. The following measures were used: the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS). Our findings suggest that individuals who experienced physical and sexual abuse are more likely to perpetrate violent crimes and that ED increases anxiety and depressive symptoms in individuals with traumatic symptoms. In conclusion, it is imperative to provide psychological support to this population, and interventions need to be adapted according to trauma exposure.

The Covid-19 pandemic conveyed consequences for people’s physical and mental health. During the worst pandemic scenarios, police officers were one of the most exposed populations. This situation brought these professionals unusual responsibilities, such as adjust work shifts and allocate police officers from operational and administrative services to the Covid-19 supervision teams and put them at an elevated risk of contracting the virus because they are also frontline workers too, and they often did not have personal protective equipment. Due to this, the main objective of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of the Fear of Covid-19 among police officers, as well as to know how the fear of Covid-19 relates to the mental health during the worst wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Portugal. Participants were 174 police officers aged between 23 and 58 years old (M = 40.81; SD = 6.83) who completed the Fear of Covid-19 Scale, the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire, and the Posttraumatic Disorder Checklist for DSM-5. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a good adjustment fit for the two-factor model. Construct validity was supported, and the internal consistency was good for both periods of assessment. The model proved invariant for both groups (pre and during lockdown) at the measurement, scalar, and structural levels. Study findings suggest that the Portuguese Version of FCV-19S is a reliable measure to assess the fear of Covid-19 among police officers, including during the pandemic development.

Firefighters are considered a high-risk group for developing stress-related psychopathologies, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), due to repeated exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTE). Studies have indicated that PTE is also associated with the development of Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD). However, the occurrence of this condition among firefighters is an underexplored topic. This study aimed to assess the relationships between PTE and PTSD symptoms, and the relationship between PTE and SSD symptoms. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the role of SSD in the relationship between PTE and PTSD within Portuguese firefighters who battled the 2017 violent forest fires. To this end, a sample of 116 firefighters (75% male) completed self-report measures of posttraumatic symptoms, somatic symptoms, and other psychopathological symptoms. Contrary to several literature, in the present study, neither PTSD nor SSD symptoms seem to be correlated with any sociodemographic characteristics. However, the exposure to PTE is positively correlated with both PTSD and SSD symptoms. Furthermore, SSD seems to act as a mediator in the relationship between PTE and PTSD.

Police officers are exposed to several operational and organizational stressors that significantly impact on their mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic was a new stressor that further exacerbated existing stressors, highlighting the need for a better understanding of its impact on the mental health of police officers. This study tested the hypothesis that occupational stressors and PTSD are serial mediators of the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and burnout. Two hundred Portuguese police officers completed an online survey that assessed their fear of COVID-19, exposure to operational and organizational stressors, PTSD, and burnout. The results of the serial mediation analysis indicated that not only do occupational stressors act as mediators between fear of COVID-19 and burnout but also that PTSD is a mediator. The findings of this study underscore the need for interventions to reduce the negative impact of operational and organizational stressors on the mental health of police officers. Furthermore, this study highlights the power of police institutions for prevention and intervention with these professionals. By recognizing the specific stressors that contribute to the development of PTSD and burnout, our study provides a foundation for the development of direct interventions that can help to minimize the adverse effects of these stressors

Poly-victimization (PV) has a greater adverse impact on adolescents' lives than any single victimization type, even when repeatedly experienced. Adolescents who experience PV tend to present with an array of adjustment problems, and research has begun to identify mechanisms linking PV to adjustment problems. Both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and dissociation are linked to PV and adjustment problems; however, it is unclear how these variables play a role in the pathways from PV to adjustment problems. This study assessed PTSD and dissociation as serial mediators in the PV-adjustment problems link. Two hundred eighteen Portuguese youth identified as poly-victims (56% girls) and aged between 12 and 17 years old (M = 15.63; SD = 1.26) were recruited from three at-risk contexts' cohorts. Participants completed self-report measures of trauma exposure, posttraumatic symptoms, dissociative symptoms, and emotional and social adjustment problems. The study results suggest that, among poly-victim adolescents, PTSD and dissociation may be mediators of the relationship between the cumulative extent of victimization and adjustment problems. The current study's findings highlight the importance of careful assessment of both PTSD and dissociative symptoms and indicate that targeted interventions are essential when working with poly-victimized youth with the highest scores of cumulative victimization. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Trauma as well as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with increased rates of later somatization symptoms. Some evidence has proposed that posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) can mediate this relationship. However, most data come from adult samples. This two-wave longitudinal study aimed to investigate the relationship between cumulative adversity (total amount of adverse and traumatic experiences), PTSS and somatization symptoms in adolescents. The sample included 150 adolescents, mean age of 16 years old (M = 15.99, SD = 1.25) with 67 (44.7%) males and 83 (55.3%) females. All were exposed to at least one traumatic event or one childhood adversity. The interval time between the two assessments was about 1 year. The results showed that the PTSS Cluster E, alterations in arousal and reactivity, partially mediated the relationship between cumulative adversity and somatization symptoms (B = .09, BSE = .03, CI [.01, .15]). However, the effect size of the mediation was medium, while the direct effect was large (B = .34, BSE = .08, CI [.18, .50]). While arousal and reactivity symptoms seem to play a key role in adolescents suffering from somatization symptoms, cumulative adversity have their own direct and strong contribution. Clinicians should consider assessing PTSS and cumulative adversity when caring for adolescents suffering with somatic symptoms to better deliver intervention plans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Purpose: The Covid-19 pandemic conveyed consequences for people’s physical and mental health. During the worst pandemic scenarios, police officers were one of the most exposed populations. This situation brought these professionals unusual responsibilities, such as adjust work shifts and allocate police officers from operational and administrative services to the Covid-19 supervision teams and put them at an elevated risk of contracting the virus because they are also frontlineworkers too, and they often did not have personal protective equipment. Due to this, the main objective of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of the Fear of Covid-19 among police officers, as well as to know how the fear of Covid-19 relates to the mental health during the worst wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Portugal. Methodogy: Participants were 174 police officers aged between 23 and 58 years old (M=40.81; SD=6.83) who completed the Fear of Covid-19 Scale, the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire, and the Posttraumatic Disorder Checklist for DSM-5. Findings: Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a good adjustment fit for the two-factor model. Construct validity was supported, and the internal consistency was good for both periods of assessment. The model proved invariant for both groups (pre and during lockdown) at the measurement, scalar, and structural levels. Originality: Study findings suggest that the Portuguese Version of FCV-19S is a reliable measure to assess the fear of Covid-19 among police officers, including during the pandemic development.