Anxiety

Trauma Informed Care

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Trauma Informed Care, Trauma-Informed Care

  • See Also
  1. Acute Stress Disorder
  2. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
  3. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Triggers
  4. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screening Tool
  5. Sexual Assault
  6. Intimate Partner Violence
  7. Human Trafficking
  • Definitions
  1. Trauma Informed Care
    1. Medical approach with consideration of prior Trauma
    2. Clinician recognizes signs of prior Trauma and avoids retraumatization
  • Approach
  • Trauma Informed Care
  1. Empowerment, Voice and Choice
    1. Information is provided in simple, relatable and understandable terms
    2. Patients have the autonomy to refuse certain procedures, or to take breaks during the assessment
  2. Peer Support
    1. Patient may be accompanied for support (e.g. family members, community health workers)
    2. Specific peer support specialists may be available for patient's needs (e.g. Domestic Violence survivor)
  3. Collaboration and Mutuality
    1. Patients as partners in their own care including the evaluation and treatment plan
  4. Safety
    1. Clinical team provides an emotionally and physically safe environment for the patient
    2. Avoiding retraumatization helps to keep patient calm and cooperative in a chaotic environment (e.g. ED)
    3. Reduce light intensity and sound intensity (e.g. decrease alarm frequency and loudness)
    4. Employ alternatives to restraints
  5. Trust and Transparency
    1. Keep patients informed with complete transparency, and with privacy maintained
    2. Consult with patients on exams and procedures that may cause retraumatization
  6. Cultural, Historical and Gender Issues
    1. Marginalized groups (e.g. LQBTQ, people of color, Refugees) are at higher risk of prior Trauma
  • Technique
  • History and Exam
  1. See Agitation Management (includes Verbal Deescalation)
  2. Perform evaluation in a private space (and as quiet as possible)
  3. Introduce yourself and maintain a welcoming, positive and nonjudgemental approach
  4. Identify how patient would like to be referred (e.g. name pronunciation)
  5. Use an Interpreter for non-english speaking patients
  6. Maintain adequate Analgesics
  7. Allow for questions and clarification throughout the evaluation
  • Evaluation
  1. See Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Screening Tool
  • References
  1. Mhonda and Fisher (2025) Crit Dec Emerg Med 39(3): 25-34