Trauma and women

Trauma is extremely prevalent in the lives of women, and the emotional, physical, social, and financial costs are often enduring and pervasive. Given its prevalence, all mental health professionals should receive training in the impact of trauma and learn the principles of its treatment. Although a considerable amount is known about the impact of trauma, much less is known about how to help survivors fully recover, especially women suffering from chronic, complex PTSD. Treatments must-be sensitive to issues of gender. Much research is needed, especially controlled, prospective studies to illuminate normal and pathological responses to trauma. Also needed are large epidemiological studies that compare the genders across trauma types and assess contextual issues of the trauma. We need to learn much more about the individual, family, and community resources that impart resilience, as well as impede recovery. Given the prevalence of violence, it will be impossible to resolve its impact on an individual basis. Interventions also need to be directed at system-level factors that foster violence.