The latest published international research on psychological trauma and beyond. Please note, some articles may require a subscription to access.
Clinical conceptualisation of PTSD in psilocybin treatment: disrupting a pre-determined and over-determined maladaptive interpretive framework
Modlin et al. (2025). Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. doi.org/10.1177/20451253251342319
A review exploring the multifaceted nature of PTSD, and the potential of psilocybin as a therapeutic agent. The authors synthesise recent literature on the safety, efficacy and proposed mechanisms of action and change of psychedelic therapies for psychiatric conditions associated with traumatic stress, including treatment-resistant depression, end-of-life anxiety and anorexia nervosa. They propose a conceptual framework for psilocybin treatment in PTSD. A clinical narrative illustrates how psilocybin’s psychopharmacological properties and effects may facilitate therapeutic progress by disrupting this rigid and restricting framework. The authors offer recommendations for the safe administration of psilocybin for traumatised patients in medical research settings, emphasising the importance of rigorous and trauma-informed protocols and comprehensive patient care.
Post-traumatic stress disorder: evolving conceptualization and evidence, and future research directions
Brewin et al. (2025). World Psychiatry. doi.org/10.1002/wps.21269
This empirical review synthesises epidemiological findings, sociocultural differences, and new diagnostic criteria for PTSD, including the DSM-5 dissociative subtype and ICD-11 complex PTSD (CPTSD). The paper presents evidence from genetic, neuroimaging, and intervention studies, highlighting the efficacy of trauma-focused therapies such as TF-CBT and EMDR, and emerging interventions such as MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. It also discusses advances in the priority areas of adapting interventions in resource-limited settings and across cultural contexts, and of community-based approaches for PTSD prevention and treatment.
Connectome-based predictive modeling of PTSD development among recent trauma survivors
Ben-Zion et al. (2025). JAMA Network Open. doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.0331
This longitudinal study used neuroimaging and machine learning to predict PTSD symptom severity in trauma survivors. The research identified early neural network patterns associated with later PTSD outcomes, providing a basis for personalised intervention strategies. By applying connectome-based predictive modeling to functional magnetic resonance imaging, the study found that specific brain connectivity patterns at one month post-trauma significantly predicted symptom clusters up to 14 months later. These findings suggest that the early identification of neural network differences may aid targeted interventions following trauma exposure.
A systematic review of machine learning findings in PTSD and their relationships with theoretical models
Blekic et al. (2025). Nature Mental Health. doi.org/10.1038/s44220-024-00365-4
This systematic review analysed 30 empirical studies (n = 12,908) using machine learning to identify risk factors for PTSD. The review found strong concordance between data-driven predictors, categorised into pre-, peri-, and post-trauma exposure predictors, and established psychological theories, as well as highlighted underexplored predictors. The authors propose an integrative model combining theory-driven and machine learning findings to better understand PTSD risk and guide future research, emphasising the importance of standards on how to apply and report ML approaches for mental health.
PTSD and CPTSD in the new ICD-11 – A latent profile analysis
Beckford et al. (2025). Psychiatry Research. doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116350
This study used latent profile analysis to empirically differentiate between PTSD and complex PTSD (CPTSD) in trauma patients under the new ICD-11 diagnostic criteria. The researchers analysed a large clinical sample (n = 588) to identify distinct symptom profiles among individuals with a history of trauma, revealing three primary latent profiles. The results empirically validate the ICD-11 distinction and identify additional clinically relevant symptom profiles. This study highlights the complexity of trauma responses and the necessity for nuanced, individualised approaches in both diagnosis and treatment.
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