Few phenomena are as widely experienced across different individuals, cultures, and contexts as that of traumatic stress. Whether as victims, perpetrators, supporters or simply observers, most people can identify to some extent with the psychological and physical consequences produced by traumatic events. This text examines the nature of traumatic stress, the contexts in which it occurs, and the needs and coping strategies of its survivors. Topics include the survivors of rape, soldiers of war, and the nature of coping with loss or trauma in old age. Furthermore, the roles of culture, social support, and more formal organizations in the ongoing process of overcoming trauma are explored as the text details the nature of traumatic experiences, the needs of survivors, and the challenges faced by those who wish to support and help those survivors.

Contributors. Preface. Part I: Post Traumatic Stress: Contexts & Consequences. Loss of Trust: Correlates of the Comorbidity of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Severe Mental Illness. A Primer of Closed Head Injury Sequelae in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Childhood Sexual Abuse and Revictimization in Adolescence and Adulthood. Comparisons of Narratives of Loss Experiences of World War II and Vietnam Combat Veterans. Lessons in the Psychology of Loss: Accounts of Middle-aged Romaian Women. Part II: Responding to and Coping with Posttraumatic Stress. The Role of Attributions and Perceived Control in Recovery from Rape. Survivor's Needs and Stories After Organizational Disasters: How Organizations Can Facilitate the Coping Process. The Aging of Grief: Parental Grief of Israeli Soldiers. Coping with Losses and Past Trauma in Old Age: The Separation-Individuation Perspective. Holocaust Transmission: Perverse or Life-Affirming. Conclusions & Future Directions.