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Review The emergence of posttraumatic distress in later life: a review. 2008
Hiskey S, Luckie M, Davies S, Brewin CR. · University College London, London, United Kingdom. · J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. · Pubmed #19017780 No free full text.
Abstract: We review the literature for evidence of posttraumatic stress disorder that emerges in older adulthood yet is related to earlier life events. Minimum standards necessary to establish the phenomenon are proposed and applied to existing group and case studies. Our findings suggest that the best evidence for this rests with a handful of group studies featuring male war veterans (n = 4) and a variety of case studies (n = 12) that have appeared over the last two decades. We summarize what is known regarding prevalence, symptoms, course, and triggers, and conclude that the phenomenon does exist but has rarely been investigated systematically. There are therefore no grounds at present for thinking of reemergent posttraumatic stress disorder as a unique subtype of the disorder among elderly people. We suggest that future research focuses in more detail on participants' history of posttraumatic difficulties and considers the phenomenon across groups other than male veterans.
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Article The phenomenology of reactivated trauma memories in older adults: a preliminary study. 2008
Hiskey S, Luckie M, Davies S, Brewin CR. · Department of Clinical Psychology, North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Colchester, UK. · Aging Ment Health. · Pubmed #18791897 No free full text.
Abstract: Empirical literature concerning reactivated memories of trauma among older adults is sparse. Twelve elderly participants with re-emergent, involuntary, memories of previous adversity were given a structured interview exploring phenomenological aspects of the experience. Intense and highly vivid sensory components of memory were common as was a sense of current threat. This was compared with data available from the adult literature on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and we conclude that the process of trauma memory reactivation after years of attenuation seems not to have affected involuntary intrusive representations of what happened. Recommendations to extend the current research are suggested.
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