Trauma assessment in outpatient psychotherapy and associations with psychotherapist's gender, own traumatic events, length of work experience, and theoretical orientation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Traumatic events are strongly associated with mental health problems. At present, traumatic events and trauma-specific needs are commonly underdetected in therapeutic settings. Many mental health professionals lack key competencies for trauma inquiry and treatment.

Objective

In this study, we aimed to investigate the everyday practices of dealing with traumatic events in outpatient psychotherapy in Germany as well as the influence of the therapist's gender, own traumatic events, length of professional experience, and theoretical orientation.

Method

A total of 148 outpatient psychotherapists completed a purpose-designed online questionnaire. Therapists rated barriers and attitudes towards trauma assessment, possible requirements for enquiring about trauma, a

SUBMITTER: Lueders J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8890554 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature