John Briere

University of Southern California | USC · Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences

Objective: This research was undertaken to examine the role between cumulative exposure to different types of traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) status in general population and prison samples. Methods: Two archival datasets were examined: the standardization sample for the Detailed Assessment of Posttraumatic States (DAPS...

Objective: To the extent that dissociation is a multidimensional phenomenon, and given a growing literature on complex posttraumatic outcomes, we hypothesized a new construct: dissociative complexity (DC). DC is defined as the tendency to simultaneously endorse multiple, relatively independent dissociative dimensions into their clinical ranges, an...

Objective. Despite a number of studies, the reasons for self-injurious behavior (SIB) have yet to be clearly specified. Using path analysis, we sought to test the hypothesis that exposure to adverse events produces depression and posttraumatic stress, which, in turn, motivate dissociation, that, when at high levels, supports the use of SIB. Method....

Based on attachment theory, we hypothesized that self-reported childhood experiences of disengaged parenting (DP) would predict adults' psychological symptoms even more than, on average, childhood sexual, physical, or psychological abuse. In a large (N = 640) university sample, bootstrapped multiple regression analyses indicated that although vario...

An online sample of 528 people were asked to respond to a hypothetical scenario: If a police car came up right behind you with its lights flashing, how much would you worry that you would be killed? Participants also reported on whether they experienced aggressive behavior by police in the past (provoked or otherwise) and, if so, completed a measur...

Peer support group programs are often recommended for burn survivors as a way to facilitate their psychosocial recovery and reintegration into the community. Such programs provide opportunities for burn patients and their caretakers to access emotional and informational support from healthcare providers and other survivors in inpatient or outpatien...

Background Some individuals who have been sexually assaulted as adolescents or adults have also been abused in childhood, although it is not clear how different forms of childhood maltreatment are related to adolescent/adult sexual assault, and how earlier abuse alters the relationship between sexual assault and current symptomatology. Objective W...

Introduction It is estimated that 19–45% of hospitalized burns patients exhibit symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) during hospitalization, and inpatient distress is linked with poorer functional, psychosocial, and medical prognosis. Despite this, research on psychological intervention for PTS during inpatient treatment for burns remains nascent...

Introduction Providing peer support group programs for burn survivors and their caregivers is an integral part of facilitating short- and long-term psychosocial recovery. Despite this, there is a lack of availability and standardization of these groups, which is partly due to a paucity of literature on this subject. The purpose of this study is to...

Les expériences de traumas interpersonnels en enfance (TIE; agression sexuelle, violence parentale) sont répertoriées chez certains survivants d’agression sexuelle vécue à l’adolescence ou à l’âge adulte (ASA), et sont associées à des symptômes traumatiques significatifs (anxiété, dissociation, perturbations sexuelles; Godbout & Briere, 2012). Il d...

The multivariate relationship between suicidality and three potential etiologic variables (depression, posttraumatic stress, and reactive avoidance) was examined in a stratified sample of 679 individuals from the general population. Lifetime exposure to a trauma or another very upsetting event was prevalent among those reporting suicidal behavior i...

The multivariate relationship between suicidality and three potential etiologic variables (depression, posttraumatic stress, and reactive avoidance) was examined in a stratified sample of 679 individuals from the general population. Lifetime exposure to a trauma or another very upsetting event was prevalent among those reporting suicidal behavior i...

Objectives: Survivors of early interpersonal trauma may experience relational problems, anger, impulsive and self-destructive behaviors, identity disturbance, and other difficulties that are associated with borderline personality disorder. Insecure attachment also has been documented in survivors and may be related to borderline personality-relate...

Objective: Based on the paucity of self-report measures of disorganized attachment (DA), we developed and tested a scale examining adults’ self-reported disorganized verbalizations, cognitions, and behaviors when discussing their childhoods. Method: The Disorganized Response Scale (DRS) was created and administered to 640 university students, and...

The relationship between type of trauma exposure, cumulative trauma, peritraumatic distress, and subsequent acute stress disorder (ASD) symptoms was examined prospectively in 96 individuals presenting with acute medical injuries to a Level 1 emergency/trauma department. Common precipitating traumas included motor vehicle-related events, stabbings,...

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health concern. Yet, despite an increasingly extensive literature on interpersonal violence, research on male victims of IPV remains sparse and the associations between different forms of child maltreatment (CM) and IPV victimization and perpetration in men remains unclear. The present meta-analysis...

Among individuals defined as having been sexually abused based on legal criteria, some will self-report having been abused and some will not. Yet, the empirical correlates of self-definition status are not well studied. Different definitions of abuse may lead to varying prevalence rates and contradictory findings regarding psychological outcomes. T...

Three hundred and eighty-seven participants from the general population completed the Suicidality scale of the Detailed Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress (DAPS) and the Traumatic Events Survey (TES). Within the prior month, 14% of adults reported some degree of suicidal ideation and 2% reported an active or passive suicide attempt. Multinomial log...

Childhood cumulative trauma (CCT) refers to an amalgam of childhood maltreatment experiences that can lead to a range of symptoms and problems in adulthood. The current study examined an integrative model of CCT for its relevance to psychosexual adjustment in adult survivors. A total of 620 participants aged 18 years and over completed a questionna...

The Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI; Briere, 1995), a measure of the psychological effects of trauma and other adverse events, was recently expanded and updated (TSI-2; Briere, 2011). This study evaluated four competing models of TSI-2 dimensionality and determined the predictive validity of the best-fitting solution. Data were collected from 679 adu...

This study tested a moderation model in which the association between child sexual abuse severity and negative sexual outcomes (i.e., sexual avoidance and compulsivity) differed as a function of relationships status (i.e., single, cohabiting, and married individuals). A sample of 1,033 adults completed self-report questionnaires online, and 21.5% r...

This book describes a structured, empirically-based therapy (Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma for Children [ITCT-C]) for children aged 8 to 12 years. ITCT-C is especially relevant to socially marginalized children who have experienced multiple adverse experiences and attachment challenges, and who present with multiple psychological symptoms...

Objective: This research was undertaken to examine the role between cumulative exposure to different types of traumatic events and PTSD status in general population and prison samples. Methods: Two archival datasets were examined: the standardization sample for the Detailed Assessment of Posttraumatic States (DAPS; Briere, 2001), and data from a st...

We tested a mediation model in which the relationship between child sexual abuse (CSA) severity and extradyadic sexual involvement (ESI) is explained through sexual compulsivity. Participants were 669 adults currently involved in an intimate relationship who completed self-report questionnaires. Prevalence of ESI was 32% in women and 57% in men sur...

Although trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder both have been linked to suicidal thoughts and behavior, the underlying basis for this relationship is not clear. In a sample of 357 trauma-exposed individuals from the general population, younger participant age, cumulative trauma exposure, and all three DSM-IV PTSD clusters (reexperiencin...

Rates of adolescent substance use and abuse (SUA) are extremely high, as are rates of adolescent victimization and interpersonal violence in the United States. SUA is even more common among adolescents who have experienced victimization, violence, or other traumatizing experiences. One aspect of the relationship between SUA and trauma is that early...

Complex trauma involves multiple exposures to adverse events over the lifespan. Such experiences are associated with a variety of psychological outcomes, including a decreased threshold for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder as well as self-capacity problems and dysfunctional behaviors. Psychological interventions that increase affect...

symposium paper presented at the Canadian Psychological Association annual meeting (June 6, 2015), Ottawa, Canada.

A number of studies suggest that dissociation is reliably related to trauma exposure, and that inadequate regulation of posttraumatic distress may be a significant factor. We sought to examine whether affect dysregulation predicts dissociation in those denying any lifetime exposure to trauma. These relationships were examined in a general populatio...

Abstract Although trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder both have been linked to suicidal thoughts and behavior, the underlying basis for this relationship is not clear. In a sample of 357 trauma-exposed individuals from the general population, younger participant age, cumulative trauma exposure, and all three DSM-IV PTSD clusters (reex...

Research indicates that childhood sexual abuse (CSA) produces lasting alterations in interpersonal relatedness, identity, and affect regulation, often referred to as self-capacity disturbance. CSA also has been shown to negatively impact sexual functioning. This study examined the role of altered self-capacities in mediating the relationship betwee...

Grounded in research and accumulated clinical wisdom, this book describes a range of ways to integrate mindfulness and other contemplative practices into clinical work with trauma survivors. The volume showcases treatment approaches that can be tailored to this population's needs, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), acceptance and co...

Research and clinical studies have shown that attachment in intimate relationships is central to relational and psychological adjustment (Brassard & Lussier, 2009). Discomfort with intimacy (avoidant attachment), fear of abandonment (anxious attachment), and disorganized attachment are often seen in survivors of childhood interpersonal trauma (Godb...

Thoroughly updated with DSM-5 content throughout, Principles of Trauma Therapy, Second Edition: DSM-5 Update is both comprehensive in scope and highly practical in application. This popular text provides a creative synthesis of cognitive-behavioral, relational, affect regulation, mindfulness, and psychopharmacologic approaches to the "real world" t...

Mindfulness-based Breath Training (MBRT), is part of a protocol for the treatment of acutely burned hospital patients. It is used to decrease distress and increase mindfulness, and is freely available to all clinicians working with patients exposed to acute or chronic physical trauma. Reference: Briere, J., & Semple, R. (in progress). Brief Treatm...

Early interpersonal trauma (especially cumulative trauma) has long-ranging impacts on health, well-being, andinterpersonal functioning (Felitti & Anda, 2010). Aspects of intimate relationships that may be affected by early trauma include sexual functioning and satisfaction, attitudes toward sexuality, and attachment security. Adult attachment was e...

This study examined the role of nonoffending parental support in the relationship between child sexual abuse (CSA) and later romantic attachment, psychiatric symptoms, and couple adjustment. Of 348 adults engaged in stable romantic relationship, 59 (17%) reported sexual abuse. In this subgroup, 14% (n=8) reported parental intervention after the abu...

Clinical knowledge and an emerging empirical literature are highlighting many long-lasting deleterious effects of childhood interpersonal trauma on couple functioning. Early experiences of violence and maltreatment seem particularly to affect the subsequent ability of survivors to establish lasting, satisfying intimate relationships. This paper pre...

Les connaissances cliniques ainsi qu'une littérature empirique émergente mettent en lumière plusieurs répercussions délétères durables des traumas interperson-nels vécus en enfance sur le fonctionnement conjugal. Les expériences de violence et de maltraitance précoces semblent notamment affecter la capacité ultérieure des survivants à établir des r...

Women with interpersonal trauma histories are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors such as early onset of sexual activity, high risk sexual encounters, and sex with multiple partners. While this association is widely documented, the mechanisms linking trauma history with an increase in sexual risk taking are not always clear. Psychologic...

Multiple trauma exposures during childhood are associated with a range of psychological symptoms later in life. In this study, we examined whether the total number of different types of trauma experienced by children (cumulative trauma) is associated with the complexity of their subsequent symptomatology, where complexity is defined as the number o...

Available on the web at attc.usc.edu

Although early-onset, repeated trauma is relatively common in socially marginalized populations and related to numerous negative outcomes, most empirically validated interventions are not especially well tailored to meet the complex and individualized needs of child and adolescent trauma survivors in such contexts. Integrative treatment of complex...

A new instrument, the Psychological Maltreatment Review (PMR), is introduced and its psychometrics are described. The PMR examines adult retrospective reports of child psychological abuse, psychological neglect, and psychological support, measured separately for maternal and paternal figures. Male and female participants (N = 1,051) completed the P...

Although early-onset, repeated trauma is relatively common in socially marginalized populations and related to numerous negative outcomes, most empirically validated interventions are not especially well tailored to meet the complex and individualized needs of child and adolescent trauma survivors in such contexts. Integrative treatment of complex...

The PMR examines adult retrospective reports of child psychological abuse, psychological neglect, and psychological support, measured separately for maternal and paternal figures. From: Briere, J., Godbout, N., & Runtz, M. (2012). The Psychological Maltreatment Review (PMR): Initial reliability and association with insecure attachment in adults. J...

This chapter explores the role of mindfulness and compassion in the treatment of trauma. It will be suggested that unconditional caring, attunement, and acceptance, in combination with the therapist’s overall mindfulness of self and the client, can provide new experiences that support both emotional and cognitive trauma processing.

Treating Complex Trauma in Adolescents and Young Adults is the first empirically-validated, multi-component manual to guide practitioners and students in the treatment of multi-traumatized adolescents and young adults. Best-selling author, John Briere, and renowned clinician, Cheryl Lanktree, outline a hands-on, culturally-sensitive approach to the...

This semistructured interview allows the clinician to cover the primary forms of trauma potentially experienced by adolescents (i.e., those between the ages of 12 and 21). The clinician may wish to paraphrase these questions in order to make them fit better into the session. However, (1) try to use the behavioral descriptors (don't just ask about "...

The multivariate relationship between interpersonal trauma, posttraumatic stress, affect dysregulation, and various avoidance behaviors was examined in a sample of 418 trauma-exposed participants from the general population. Structural equation modeling indicated that (a) suicidality, substance abuse, dissociation, and problematic activities such a...

A wide range of potentially adverse events have been associated with psychological disturbance in adults [1], with most studies indicating that interpersonal trauma has the most negative long-term impacts [2]. Significantly, although victimization experienced in adulthood (e.g., rape, physical assault) can result in major psychological disturbance,...

This investigation evaluated the Atypical Response (ATR) scale of the Trauma Symptom Inventory - 2nd edition (TSI-2) in terms of its ability to distinguish genuine symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from simulated PTSD. Seventy-five undergraduate students were trained to simulate PTSD and were given monetary incentives to do so. Their...

The Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI; Briere, 1995) is the most commonly used self-report measure of posttraumatic symptomatology in adults, as rated by professionals specializing in the study and treatment of trauma-related impacts (Elhai, Gray, Kashdan, & Franklin, 2005). This normed and standardized test is commonly used to assess a range of trauma...

This article reviews the complex relationship between child maltreatment and later psychosocial difficulties among adult women. Specifically addressed are (a) the various forms of childhood maltreatment, (b) the range of potential long-term psychological outcomes, and (c) important contextual variables that mediate or add to these maltreatment-symp...

This study examined the convergent and discriminant validity of two trauma symptom measures, the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC) [Briere, J. (1996). Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC). Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources] and the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children (TSCYC) [Briere, J. (2005). Trauma Symptom...

The relationship between accumulated exposure to different types of traumatic events (cumulative trauma) in childhood and the total number of different types of symptomatology reported (symptom complexity) in adulthood was examined in a sample of 2,453 female university students. There was a linear relationship between the number of trauma types ex...

The study assessed the relationship between a history of child abuse, nonadherence to medications, and medical outcome in children who had a liver transplant. Abuse history for children and adolescents ages 8 to 21 who underwent a liver transplantation at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York was obtained in interviews in 2002. Adherence to tacrol...

Research suggests that individuals with eating disorders (EDs) are relatively likely to have been abused or neglected as children, or to have been victimized in adolescence or adulthood. These experiences, in turn, are often associated with a range of psychological symptoms, as well as, in some cases, a more severe or complex ED presentation. In th...

This study examined abuse and trauma exposure as it predicted identity problems, affect dysregulation, and relational disturbance in 620 individuals from the general population. Multivariate analyses indicated that maternal (but not paternal) emotional abuse was uniquely associated with elevations on all 7 scales of the Inventory of Altered Self-Ca...

Although dissociation is often described as a posttraumatic response, the actual statistical association between trauma exposure and dissociative symptoms is surprisingly small. This suggests that that some dissociative phenomena may be unrelated to trauma, or may be related in more complex ways. Analysis of the normative data for the Multiscale Di...

Dissociative responses that occur at the time of a trauma (peritraumatic dissociation) have been described as a major risk factor for subsequent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study evaluated peritraumatic dissociation and PTSD from a multivariate perspective, along with a less-investigated phenomenon: trauma-specific dissociatio...

The authors offer a framework for the assessment of psychological responses associated with exposure to early onset, multiple, or extended traumatic stressors. Six prominent and overlapping symptoms clusters are described: altered self-capacities, cognitive symptoms, mood disturbance, overdeveloped avoidance responses, somatoform distress, and post...

The dimensionality of dissociation was examined in a combined sample of 1,326 general population, clinical, and university participants who completed the Multiscale Dissociation Inventory (MDI). Principal components analysis identified five moderately intercorrelated factors (mean r = .39): Disengagement, Identity Dissociation, Emotional Constricti...

This article reviews the major forms of violence against women, including sexual assault, intimate-relationship violence, and stalking and outlines the known psychological effects of such victimization. Also discussed are a number of variables that combine to determine the effects of such victimization, including type and characteristics of the ass...

The prevalence and impact of adult sexual assault (ASA) were examined in a stratified random sample of the general population. Among 941 participants, ASA was reported by 22% of women and 3.8% of men. Multivariate risk factors for ASA included a younger age, being female, having been divorced, sexual abuse in childhood, and physical assault in adul...

The prevalence and impact of adult sexual assault (ASA) were examined in a stratified random sample of the general population. Among 941 participants, ASA was reported by 22% of women and 3.8% of men. Multivariate risk factors for ASA included a younger age, being female, having been divorced, sexual abuse in childhood, and physical assault in adul...

PTSD in children gained recognition with the first report after a Buffalo Creek dam collapse in 1972 (Green, et al., 1991). Stressors such as acute trauma, loss of a caretaker, and personal lack of safety have been identified and researched extensively. The current study examined the effects of invasive medical procedures on the levels of PTS sympt...

This chapter outlines structured interviews and measures available for the assessment of traumatic events and posttraumatic disorders. What becomes clear when reviewing most trauma interviews and inventories in the field is their inherent research focus, as opposed to being specific clinical tools. Some measures provide insufficient information on...

This book is the second edition of the well-known Psychological Assessment of Adult Posttraumatic States, published in 1997. A major update from the first edition, it presents a detailed, yet practical summary of the major issues and instruments involved in the assessment of posttraumatic disturbance. Dr. Briere analyzes the types of traumas most l...

This study examined the prevalence and psychological sequelae of childhood sexual and physical abuse in adults from the general population. A national sampling service generated a geographically stratified, random sample of 1,442 subjects from the United States. Subjects were mailed a questionnaire that included the Traumatic Events Survey (TES) [T...

This article describes the Inventory of Altered Self-Capacities (IASC), a 63-item standardized measure of disturbed functioning in relation to self and others. The seven scales of the IASC are Interpersonal Conflicts, Idealization-Disillusionment, Abandonment Concerns, Identity Impairment, Susceptibility to Influence, Affect Dysregulation, and Tens...

A frontal, or executive, variant of Alzheimer's disease (EAD) has been described in the literature in which frontal dysfunction accompanies temporal and parietal changes in the early stages of the illness. However, no study has empirically investigated associated aspects, such as neuropsychiatric symptoms, instrumental activities of daily living, o...

This article describes the Inventory of Altered Self-Capacities (IASC), a 63-item standardized measure of disturbed functioning in relation to self and others. The seven scales of the IASC are Interpersonal Conflicts, Idealization-Disillusionment, Abandonment Concerns, Identity Impairment, Susceptibility to Influence, Affect Dysregulation, and Tens...

The Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children (TSCYC) is a 90-item caretaker-report measure of children's trauma- and abuse-related symptomatology. It contains two reporter validity scales and eight clinical scales [Post-traumatic Stress-Intrusion (PTS-I), Post-traumatic Stress-Avoidance (PTS-AV), Post-traumatic Stress-Arousal (PTS-AR), Post-trau...

"The APSAC Handbook on Child Maltreatment" provides . . . information for those who dedicate their working lives to alleviating the causes and consequences of child abuse and neglect. This . . . handbook covers physical and sexual abuse, all forms of neglect, and psychological maltreatment. Experts in a variety of specialized areas have designed ea...

A sample of 935 participants from the general population completed a mail-out questionnaire containing the Trauma Symptom Inventory (J. Briere, 1995) and the Traumatic Events Survey (D. M. Elliott, 1992). The lifetime self-reported prevalence of natural disasters in this sample was 22%. Although time from the last disaster to involvement in the stu...

A sample of 935 participants from the general population completed a mail‐out questionnaire containing the Trauma Symptom Inventory (J. Briere, 1995) and the Traumatic Events Survey (D. M. Elliott, 1992). The lifetime seif‐reported prevalence of natural disasters in this sample was 22%. Although time from the last disaster to involvement in the stu...

Trauma is a frequent precipitant to PES presentation. This chapter reviews the epidemiology, mental health findings, and approach to treatment for a variety of trauma-related syndromes.

Self-mutilation, examined in samples of the general population, clinical groups, and self-identified self-mutilators, was reported by 4% of the general and 21% of the clinical sample, and was equally prevalent among males and females. Results suggest that such behavior is used to decrease dissociation, emotional distress, and posttraumatic symptoms...