Somatic reenactment in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder

Somatic reenactments, like other intrusive symptoms in post-traumatic stress disorder, such as flashbacks and nightmares, reproduce the mental content of traumatic events. Four cases are presented from survivors of military trauma and civilian catastrophes. The patients were part of larger research projects carried out by the University of Cincinnati Traumatic Stress Study Center. Understanding such symptoms as repetitions of the trauma itself proved useful therapeutically, especially in consolidating the working alliance.