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. Language: de