Review article

PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTION$ TO SEVERE TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES

Tanja SIVIK ; Dept. of Primary Health Care University of Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract

Most severe psychological crises are caused by a combination of two pathological
factors: sel'ious threat to life, loss of limb or organ/or bodily func tion.
Those injured in war are exposed to one of the most diff.icult psychological
crises which is caused by: l) threat to his physical survival, 2) loss of limb and/or
bodiliy function.
Ps.ychological reactions to a traumatic crisis follow specific, well established
steps: l. Shock p hase, 2. Reaction phase, 3. Adaption phase 4. Reorientation phase.
I t is important to recognize these factors and help the afflicted person in
ways appropriate to each specific phase. Otherwise a great ri-sk exis.ts that he will
become fixated in one of the three first phases, which will result in serious negat
ive consequences for the patient.
The medical staff mut be able to recognize both psychological defence mechanisms
that are normally activated within each phase as well as typical mental and
psychosomatic symptoms.
Our manner of treating the injured person must be appropriate at each phase
in order that the working through of the crisis can proceed favorably.
Defence mechanisms that are activated and the symptoms that a patient experiences
are largely dependent on: the type and degree of the trauma, the personality
characteristics of the injured person, the availability of appropriate and receptive
treatment.
Appropriate and involved, receptive treatment are essential for the patient's
psychological reorientation, but also for his somatic recovery.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

142745

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/142745

Publication date:

11.6.1992.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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