Recognizing and addressing medical trauma: An imperative for integrated primary care

Area of Science:

• Medical and behavioral health
• Primary care context
• Trauma-informed care

Background:

• Traumatic stress is linked to health concerns in primary care.
• Medical trauma (MT) is traumatic stress from healthcare experiences.
• MT is underrecognized in healthcare, impacting primary care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe MT from existing literature.
• To present the enduring somatic threat model for conceptualizing MT.
• To guide primary care in addressing MT.

Main Methods:

• Literature review to define MT.
• Conceptualization using the enduring somatic threat model.
• Exploration of assessment and intervention strategies for primary care.

Main Results:

• Identified risk factors and common MT experiences.
• Outlined strategies for recognizing and addressing MT in primary care.
• Presented a case example of MT presentation, assessment, and intervention.

Conclusions:

• MT significantly impacts patient wellness and quality of life.
• Biopsychosocial concerns related to MT present in primary care.
• Enhanced primary care team skills in conceptualizing, assessing, and addressing MT are crucial.