COURSE INTRODUCTION AND APPLICATION INFORMATION


Course Name
Psychology of Trauma
Code
Semester
Theory
(hour/week)
Application/Lab
(hour/week)
Local Credits
ECTS
PSY 428
Fall/Spring
3
0
3
6
Prerequisites
None
Course Language
English
Course Type
Elective
Course Level
First Cycle
Mode of Delivery face to face
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course Discussion
Q&A
Lecture / Presentation
Course Coordinator -
Course Lecturer(s)
Assistant(s) -
Course Objectives The aim of this course is to introduce the basic concepts of trauma psychology, the clinical view of psychological trauma, and trauma intervention methods.
Learning Outcomes The students who succeeded in this course;
  • Describe the characteristics of the traumatic event.
  • Compare different theories aiming to explain causes and outcomes of traumatic stress.
  • Discuss the clinical implications of exposure to traumatic events.
  • Describe common psychological reactions after the disaster and the psychosocial intervention approaches applied in our country.
  • Discuss the concepts of resilience and post-traumatic growth.
Course Description This course covers the basic concepts of trauma psychology, the reactions that people who are exposed to traumatic events may experience, and the normal and abnormal dimensions of these reactions. It also introduces intervention methods for people experiencing traumatic stress, psychological first aid, and psycho-social support practices after disasters.
Related Sustainable Development Goals

 



Course Category

Core Courses
Major Area Courses
X
Supportive Courses
Media and Managment Skills Courses
Transferable Skill Courses

 

WEEKLY SUBJECTS AND RELATED PREPARATION STUDIES

Week Subjects Required Materials
1 Introduction to the course, Definition of Trauma, Different Types of Trauma
2 Stress Human response to stress Various stress responses Steven N. Gold (Ed.), “Defining Trauma”, chap. 2 in APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology: Foundations in Knowledge, (American Psychological Association, 2017), 15-34.
3 Clinical picture of post-trauma: PTSD and other trauma-related disorders Epidemiology, etiology and symptoms Steven N. Gold (Ed.), “Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Prevalence and Sociodemographic Characteristics”, chap. 4 in APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology: Foundations in Knowledge, (American Psychological Association, 2017), 63-86. Steven N. Gold (Ed.), “Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder”, chap. 10 in APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology: Foundations in Knowledge, (American Psychological Association, 2017), 161-184.
4 Theories of trauma Steven N. Gold (Ed.), “Behavioral, Cognitive, Biological, and Neurocognitive Conceptualizations of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder”chap. 21 in APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology: Foundations in Knowledge, (American Psychological Association, 2017), 407-428. Ehlers, A., & Clark, D. M. (2000). A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behaviour research and therapy, 38(4), 319-345.
5 Traumatic stress reactions in children and adolescents Steven N. Gold (Ed.), “Child Physical Abuse”, chap. 6 in APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology: Foundations in Knowledge, (American Psychological Association, 2017), 99-117.
6 Trauma and culture Psychological resilience Posttraumatic growth Steven N. Gold (Ed.), “Spiritual Challenges Resulting from Trauma: Implications for Inclusive Psychotherapy”, chap. 28 in APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology: Foundations in Knowledge, (American Psychological Association, 2017), 559-572. Steven N. Gold (Ed.), “Trauma Resiliency and Posttraumatic Growth”, chap. 5 in APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology: Foundations in Knowledge Volume.2, (American Psychological Association, 2017), 89-113.
7 Natural disasters Steven N. Gold (Ed.), “Assisting Individuals and Communities After Natural Disasters and Community Traumas”, chap. 5 in APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology: Foundations in Knowledge, (American Psychological Association, 2017), 87-98. Neria, Y., Nandi, A., & Galea, S. (2008). Post-traumatic stress disorder following disasters: a systematic review. Psychological Medicine, 38(4), 467-480.
8 Wrap-up and guest lecturers
9 Human-induced disasters Migration and displacement Nickerson, A., Liddell, B. J., Maccallum, F., Steel, Z., Silove, D., & Bryant, R. A. (2014). Posttraumatic stress disorder and prolonged grief in refugees exposed to trauma and loss. BMC Psychiatry, 14(1), 1-11. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-14-106 Patanè, M., Ghane, S., Karyotaki, E., Cuijpers, P., Schoonmade, L., Tarsitani, L., & Sijbrandij, M. (2022). Prevalence of mental disorders in refugees and asylum seekers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Global Mental Health. doi: 10.1017/ gmh.2022.29
10 Intervention to posttraumatic stress-I: Protective, preventive and psychosocial interventions Steven N. Gold (Ed.), “Prevention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder”, chap. 23 in APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology: Foundations in Knowledge Volume.2, (American Psychological Association, 2017), 483-498. Demircioglu, M., Seker, Z., & Aker, A. T. (2019). Psychological First Aid: Objectives, Practicing, Vulnerable Groups and Ethical Rules to Follow/Psikolojik Ilk Yardim: Amaglari, Uygulanisi, Hassas Gruplar ve Uyulmasi Gereken Etik Kurallar. Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar/Current Approaches to Psychiatry, 11(3), 351-363.
11 Intervention to posttraumatic stress-II: Specialized treatments and psychotherapies Steven N. Gold (Ed.), “Cognitive Therapy”, chap. 7 in APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology: Foundations in Knowledge Volume.2, (American Psychological Association, 2017), 143-168. Steven N. Gold (Ed.), “Exposure Therapy”, chap. 8 in APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology: Foundations in Knowledge Volume.2, (American Psychological Association, 2017), 169-192.
12 Secondary traumatization Burnout and compassion fatigue Steven N. Gold (Ed.), “Secondary Traumatization and Compassion Fatigue”, chap. 29 in APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology: Foundations in Knowledge, (American Psychological Association, 2017), 573-594.
13 Loss and grief Djelantik, A. M. J., Smid, G. E., Kleber, R. J., & Boelen, P. A. (2017). Symptoms of prolonged grief, post-traumatic stress, and depression after loss in a Dutch community sample: A latent class analysis. Psychiatry research, 247, 276-281.
14 Group presentations and class discussions Reading concept notes of presentations
15 Group presentations and class discussions Reading concept notes of presentations
16 Final Exam
Course Notes/Textbooks

Gold, S. N. (Ed.). (2017). APA handbook of trauma psychology: Foundations in knowledge. American Psychological Association. ISBN: 978-1433826535

 

Suggested Readings/Materials

 

EVALUATION SYSTEM

Semester Activities Number Weigthing
Participation
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
1
40
Presentation / Jury
1
15
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exam
Midterm
Final Exam
1
45
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade
2
55
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade
1
45
Total

ECTS / WORKLOAD TABLE

Semester Activities Number Duration (Hours) Workload
Course Hours
(Including exam week: 16 x total hours)
16
3
48
Laboratory / Application Hours
(Including exam week: 16 x total hours)
16
Study Hours Out of Class
14
2
28
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
1
40
Presentation / Jury
1
14
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exam
Midterms
Final Exams
1
50
    Total
180

 

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS RELATIONSHIP

#
Program Competencies/Outcomes
* Contribution Level
1
2
3
4
5
1

To have knowledge of basic concepts, theories, approaches (behavioral, biological, cognitive, evolutionary, social, developmental, statistical, humanistic, psychodynamic, and socio-cultural), and current applications specific to the field of psychology by using current course materials and instruments.

2

To have basic knowledge and skills about the applications in the different subfields of psychology.

X
3

To have basic knowledge about the testing and measurement instruments used in different subfields of psychology and basic level skill that does not require expertise in carrying out applications in different subfields of psychology.

X
4

To make use of other disciplines that may contribute to psychology and have basic knowledge about the contribution of psychology to these disciplines.

X
5

To have cumulative knowledge about the position of psychology as a scientific discipline in Turkey, the conducted research, applications and problems encountered from past to present in the field of psychology.

6

To have the competence to conduct a research individually and/or as a team using the knowledge acquired in the field of psychology, interpret the findings obtained by using scientific problem solving and critical thinking approaches.

7

To have the ability to construct a research hypothesis, create a research design, collect data, analyze it, report it in a scientific writing format, and interpret it by using basic knowledge related to testing and measurement, research methods, and statistics acquired in the field of psychology.

8

To have the competence to share the theoretical and applied knowledge acquired in the field of psychology with the experts and lay people by using the required information and communication technologies in scientific studies and events that benefit the society.

X
9

To have knowledge of the relevant professional and ethical values ​​in the domains of psychology and respect individual differences and human rights in research and practices related to psychology.

X
10

To constantly renew herself/himself professionally by following both national and international publications in the field of psychology, the developments in testing and measurement instruments and software programs used in the discipline.

11

To establish written and verbal communication with experts and lay people by using both Turkish and English.

12

To be able to speak a second foreign at a medium level of fluency efficiently.

13

To be able to relate the knowledge accumulated throughout the human history to their field of expertise.

*1 Lowest, 2 Low, 3 Average, 4 High, 5 Highest