From the Guidelines
Big T traumas are defined as events that involve actual or threatened death, serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others, such as natural disasters, serious illness, and violence, which can lead to enduring difficulties and a range of adverse outcomes, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 1. These significant events can cause psychological distress and overwhelm normal coping mechanisms, triggering the body's fight-flight-freeze response and releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Some examples of Big T traumas include:
- Serious accidents
- Natural disasters
- Combat exposure
- Physical or sexual assault
- Life-threatening medical diagnoses The impact of Big T traumas varies based on factors such as the person's age, support system, and previous trauma history. Treatment for Big T traumas typically involves trauma-focused therapies, and early intervention is crucial to prevent chronic PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and physical health problems 1. It is essential to note that at least 70% of the general population may have been exposed to a traumatic event, with an average of 3.2 lifetime traumas during their lifetime, highlighting the need for prevention and early intervention to address the high prevalence of trauma-related disorders 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Definition of Big T Traumas
- Big T traumas refer to traumatic events that are typically characterized by their severity and impact on an individual's life, such as natural disasters, combat, or physical assault 2.
- These events can lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a potentially chronic and disabling disorder affecting a significant minority of people exposed to trauma 3.
Examples of Big T Traumas
- Combat or war-related trauma 4
- Physical or sexual assault 2
- Natural disasters, such as earthquakes or hurricanes 2
- Serious accidents or injuries 3
Impact of Big T Traumas
- Big T traumas can have a significant impact on an individual's mental health, leading to symptoms such as distressing memories, avoidance behaviors, hyperarousal, and mood disturbances 2.
- PTSD is strongly associated with suicidality, depression, and substance use, and its chronic nature can cause significant functional impairment 2.
- Effective treatments for PTSD, including trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), are available 3, 5.