International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

Log In login button

International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

Bringing together clinicians and researchers from around the world,
to advocate for the field of traumatic stress.

Join Us
The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies is dedicated to sharing information about the effects of trauma and the discovery and dissemination of knowledge about policy, program and service initiatives that seek to reduce traumatic stressors and their immediate and long-term consequences.

Mission Statement

ISTSS is an international interdisciplinary professional organization that promotes advancement and exchange of knowledge about traumatic stress.

This knowledge includes:
Understanding the scope and consequences of traumatic exposure
Preventing traumatic events and ameliorating their consequences, and
Advocating for the field of traumatic stress.

Trauma Blog

Treating Guilt and Shame Resulting from Trauma and Moral Injury
Treating Guilt and Shame Resulting from Trauma and Moral Injury
Posted on 09/01/2019 by Sonya Norman, PhD
Research over the past decade has shown posttraumatic guilt (negative affect and cognitions regarding one’s behavior—i.e., “I did something bad”) and shame (negative affect and cognitions regarding the entire self—i.e., “I am bad”) are highly prevalent among trauma survivors, and they play a role in the severity of posttraumatic mental health problems.
Treatment Considerations When Working with Survivors of Human Sex Trafficking
Treatment Considerations When Working with Survivors of Human Sex Trafficking
Posted on 09/01/2019 by Bita Ghafoori, PhD
Human sex trafficking is a significant global public health issue and a violation of human rights. Sex trafficking is defined as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act… in which a commercial sex act is induced by forced, fraud, or coercion” (Trafficking violence Protection Act, 2000). Research suggests victims of human sex trafficking span all cultures, races, ages, genders and socioeconomic brackets (Shandro, Chisolm-Straker, & Duber, 2016).
The Hong Kong Survey on the Epidemiology of Traumatic Experience and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
The Hong Kong Survey on the Epidemiology of Traumatic Experience and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Posted on 08/08/2019 by Kitty Wu, Ph.D., Patrick Leung, Ph.D., & Corine Wong, Ph.D.
TE is common and there is cross-national variation in prevalence. In the World Mental Health Survey (WMHS) (Kessler et al., 2017) with a combined sample of 68,894 adults across six continents,  findings showed that the highest TE prevalence estimates among high income countries was USA (83%); for all countries combined was 70%; 31% were exposed to four or more.