[Prevention and therapy of post-traumatic disorders from a biopsychosocial viewpoint]

Traumatic events such as accidents, rape or industrial disasters usually have biological, psychological and social consequences. Depending on the context and the type of trauma, psychiatric disorders may develop; acute stress reaction and post-traumatic stress disorder as well as unspecific disorders like depression, anxiety and somatoform disorder. In this paper, the traumatic event is understood as a potential crisis trigger. A definition of the term crisis is introduced in which the concept of identity plays a central role. Five interdependent areas of identity are presented: bodily experience, relationships, work and performance, material security, and ethical values. Following these five areas, a biopsychosocial approach to prevention and therapy of post-traumatic disorders is introduced. It is explained how, on the basis of a consistent theoretical framework, psychotherapeutic, pharmacotherapeutic, sociotherapeutic, physiotherapeutic and other interventions can be used in a multimodal treatment conception.