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IJERPH
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Understanding Mental Health Problems from a Trauma-Informed Perspective
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Understanding Mental Health Problems from a Trauma-Informed Perspective

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 1301

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hong Wang Fung

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
Interests: trauma; complex PTSD; dissociation; mental health; psychosocial care
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Anson Kai Chun Chau

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
Interests: social isolation; loneliness; adverse childhood experiences; psychosis; paranoia
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Traumatic experiences, such as family violence, emotional maltreatment, and physical abuse, are well-documented risk factors for mental health problems. Some specific mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociative disorders, and borderline personality disorder, have been particularly linked to trauma and adversities, while other mental health problems such as affective and psychotic disorders may also develop after trauma. It is important to employ a trauma-informed perspective in order to better understand, prevent, and manage mental health problems. This special issue invites original research articles, case reports, brief reports, reviews, opinion papers, and commentaries that aim to improve our understanding of trauma and its mental health consequences. Manuscripts with implications for theories and practice are welcome. Here are some examples of topics that could be addressed in this Special Issue:

  • Epidemiology of trauma-related mental health problems and comorbidities across clinical and general populations
  • Developmental trajectories of trauma-related mental health problems, their etiological and protective factors
  • Characteristics or service needs of individuals with trauma or trauma-related mental health problems
  • Assessment for trauma or trauma-related mental health problems
  • Clinical management or interventions for individuals with trauma or trauma-related mental health problems
  • Examination or modification of the trauma model of mental health problems
  • Trauma-informed public health considerations

Dr. Hong Wang Fung
Dr. Anson Kai Chun Chau
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • trauma
  • trauma-informed perspective
  • complex PTSD
  • dissociation
  • public mental health

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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31 pages, 712 KiB  
Systematic Review
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Resulting from Road Traffic Accidents (RTA): A Systematic Literature Review
by Marija Trajchevska and Christian Martyn Jones
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(7), 985; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22070985 - 23 Jun 2025
Viewed by 859
Abstract
Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a leading cause of physical injury worldwide, but they also frequently result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This systematic review examines the prevalence, predictors, comorbidity, and treatment of PTSD among RTA survivors. Four electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, [...] Read more.
Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a leading cause of physical injury worldwide, but they also frequently result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This systematic review examines the prevalence, predictors, comorbidity, and treatment of PTSD among RTA survivors. Four electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO, and ProQuest) were searched following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Articles were included if reporting on the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of a road traffic accident in adults aged 18 years and older. Including peer-reviewed journal articles and awarded doctoral theses across all publication years, and written in English, Macedonian, Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian, and Bulgarian, identified 259 articles, and using Literature Evaluation and Grading of Evidence (LEGEND) assessment of evidence 96 were included in the final review, involving 50,275 participants. Due to the heterogeneity of findings, quantitative data were synthesized thematically rather than through meta-analytic techniques. Findings are reported from Random Control Trial (RCT) and non-RCT studies. PTSD prevalence following RTAs ranged widely across studies, from 20% (using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, DSM-5 criteria) to over 45% (using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, ICD-10 criteria) within six weeks post-accident (non-RCT). One-year prevalence rates ranged from 17.9% to 29.8%, with persistence of PTSD symptoms found in more than half of those initially diagnosed up to three years post-RTA (non-RCTs). Mild or severe PTSD symptoms were reported by 40% of survivors one month after the event, and comorbid depression and anxiety were also frequently observed (non-RCTs). The review found that nearly half of RTA survivors experience PTSD within six weeks, with recovery occurring over 1 to 3 years (non-RCTs). Even minor traffic accidents lead to significant psychological impacts, with 25% of survivors avoiding vehicle use for up to four months (non-RCT). Evidence-supported treatments identified include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) (RCTs and non-RCTs), Virtual Reality (VR) treatment (RCTs and non-RCTs), and Memory Flexibility training (Mem-Flex) (pilot RCT), all of which demonstrated statistically significant reductions in PTSD symptoms across validated scales. There is evidence for policy actions including mandatory and regular psychological screening post RTAs using improved assessment tools, sharing health data to better align early and ongoing treatment with additional funding and access, and support and interventions for the family for RTA comorbidities. The findings underscore the importance of prioritizing research on the psychological impacts of RTAs, particularly in regions with high incident rates, to understand better and address the global burden of post-accident trauma. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Mental Health Problems from a Trauma-Informed Perspective)
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