This editorial introduces the Special Issue on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This issue examines difference presenting problems that can lead to PSTD and reviews and critiques some of the different treatment modalities that exist.

Summary: The paper proposes a conceptualization of the experience of fatherdaughter childhood sexual abuse through five traumagenic constructs to further understand the outcomes of it. The uniqueness’s of childhood sexual abuse compared to other forms of child abuse, in terms of symptoms and treatment principles, is described.

Findings: The 5-citraumagenic constructs are: Soul’s homelessness - the split between the body and mind, captured in time - the present and future as reflections of the past, entrapped in distorted intimacy - lack of authenticity, betrayal entrapment -the all in all betrayal, and re-enactment - the need to relive the experience.

Application: Principles required for interventions are drawn according to the traumagenic constructs; intensity, authenticity, and integration between body sensations, feelings, and thoughts.

Serial murder is globally prevalent but mainly in the United States. The 1980s saw many explanations to this phenomenon. The fact that 80% of all serial murderers are psychologically and legally sane raised many theories in biology, psychology, and even sociology to explain this phenomenon. Take, for example, Freudian theory on the weakness of the superego, anti-social personality disorder, ctheory, and so on. The problems with these theories were twofold: They suffer from the inability to test empirically, or they did not fit the common definition of serial murder. This article presents the current theory explaining serial murder and murderers. Opposing former theories, this theory tested in laboratory conditions (magnetic resonance imaging, handwriting analysis, and eyesight test). In addition, this theory could explain each component of serial murder definition. But despite the dissociative identity disorder theory’s force in explaining serial murderer, it also suffers some shortfalls.

The purpose: Child sexual abuse is considered an important national public health problem that must be addressed with a sense of urgency. This paper was to provide a comprehensive information on the child and family characteristics which may influence the vulnerability of child sexual abuse.
Recent findings: Underreporting of child sexual abuse may be due to family’s and children’s and their families’ characteristics. These include their demographics and personal characteristics.
Summary: The important role of healthcare providers as well as parents to be aware of children’s and families’ characteristics which may influence child sexual abuse. It is discussed along with implications for praxis.

Children who are victims of sexual abuse not only endure trauma, but also are likely to experience negative symptomatology as a result of this horrific ordeal. This article reviews the literature on child sexual abuse and examines the most effective treatment modalities that deal with the associated trauma. This review is not comprehensive but rather provides some highlights of the current treatment outcome literature for treating childhood trauma associated with child sexual abuse.

The aim was to gain a deeper understanding of individual reaction patterns among professional first responders (emergency treatment, military officers, and police officers) during and after acute situations that involve moral stressors in combination with cumulative stress. Swedish and Norwegian informants within these professional groups were interviewed (n=37). Data were analyzed according to a grounded theory approach. A model was developed according to which long-term effects following such stress exposure depends on the character of the continued everyday living. In particular, the frequency and intensity of perceived daily hassles and uplifts is important. Cognitivebehavioral aspects are discussed to prevent and/or reduce negative long-term reactions.