The professionals’ understanding and treatment approaches towards trauma and PTSD in Malta

Abstract

Although most people that undergo a traumatic event recover naturally, 10% (Asadi et al., 2023) are unable to recover naturally and develop posttraumatic stress disorder. There are a number of treatments available to treat PTSD, some focusing directly on the traumatic event (TF), while others focus more on empowering and encouraging the client (NTF). Guidelines suggest trauma-focused treatments as first-line treatments for PTSD; However, research shows that a number of clients drop out of therapy when a trauma-focused approach is used. This study examines the Maltese professionals’ understanding of trauma, and their approaches to treating both trauma and PTSD. This was achieved through a qualitative study, using structured interviews, which were carried out with six participants from different psychological schools. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis and four themes were extracted. When comparing the results to the literature, it was found that Maltese professionals are knowledgeable of the different manifestations of trauma and PTSD, as well as the different treatment options. However, most still make use of trauma-focused treatments. The results show that more research needs to be conducted on other types of treatments to better aid Maltese clients, as well as more training opportunities in different approaches for the professionals.