Citation

Ford JD. Clin. Psychol. Sci. Pract. 2008; 15(1): 62-67.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1468-2850.2008.00110.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affect persons and communities of all ethnocultural backgrounds. In light of the substantial evidence of intra- and intergroup diversity in the experience of psychological trauma and PTSD, it is essential first to reconsider the ways in which ethnocultural identity is defined and classified, in order to meaningfully study the relationship of race, ethnicity, and culture to the risk and adverse outcomes of psychological trauma. The role of racism as a risk factor for exposure to psychological trauma and PTSD, as well as a potential traumatic stressor with intergenerational effects, also requires careful study. Culturally competent psychological interventions to prevent or treat PTSD require informed practitioners who do not make stereotypic assumptions or inadvertently replicate racial biases.