Adverse outcome of continuous traumatic stress: A qualitative inquiry

Fifteen mothers living in Sderot, a small blue-collar town located 1 mile east of the Israel-Gaza border, all diagnosed as suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), were interviewed about their experiences under the continuous threat of rocket attacks. Respondents described civilian life in a battlefield environment, an experience defined as Continuous Traumatic Stress (CTS). Reported reactions to CTS included (a) changes in arousal and reactivity, (b) negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and (c) radical avoidance. However, unlike PTSD, the reports did not include any intrusive symptoms of flashbacks and nightmares, which was further validated using a methodological triangulation procedure. Suggestions for stress management and clinical intervention in communities affected by CTS are presented.