The Experts below are selected from a list of 297 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Anna Sandiford - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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maximising trace soil evidence an improved recovery method developed during investigation of a 26 million Bank Robbery
Forensic Science International, 2011Co-Authors: Alastair Ruffell, Anna SandifordAbstract:Abstract Obtaining as much particulate material as possible from questioned items is desirable in forensic science as this allows a range of analyses to be undertaken and the retention of material for others to check. A method of maximising particulate recovery is described using a kidnap case, where minimal staining on clothing (socks) remained as possible indications of where the victim had been held captive. Police intelligence led to a hostage scene that was sampled. Brushing of the socks recovered about 50 sand grains with some silt: ultrasonic agitation and centrifuging recovered over 300 grains of sand, silt and clay. These were visually compared to scene and control samples, allowing exclusion of 52 samples and the retention of one comparison sample as well as other possibles, saving time and money, but maximising sample quantity and quality.
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Maximising trace soil evidence: an improved recovery method developed during investigation of a $26 million Bank Robbery.
Forensic Science International, 2011Co-Authors: Alastair Ruffell, Anna SandifordAbstract:Abstract Obtaining as much particulate material as possible from questioned items is desirable in forensic science as this allows a range of analyses to be undertaken and the retention of material for others to check. A method of maximising particulate recovery is described using a kidnap case, where minimal staining on clothing (socks) remained as possible indications of where the victim had been held captive. Police intelligence led to a hostage scene that was sampled. Brushing of the socks recovered about 50 sand grains with some silt: ultrasonic agitation and centrifuging recovered over 300 grains of sand, silt and clay. These were visually compared to scene and control samples, allowing exclusion of 52 samples and the retention of one comparison sample as well as other possibles, saving time and money, but maximising sample quantity and quality.
Ask Elklit - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Predictors of acute stress disorder in response to Bank Robbery
2016Co-Authors: Maj Hansen, Ask ElklitAbstract:Background: Research has shown that robberies in the workplace, in particular those in the Bank sector are traumatising events for many employees. However, research in the acute sequelae of Bank robberies is limited. Objective and design: The present study explores the prevalence and predictors of acute stress disorder (ASD) in a questionnaire survey of Bank employees following a Bank Robbery. Results: Results show that 14.5 % (n22) of participants (N152) suffered from probable ASD, which is similar to the ASD prevalence found in other interpersonal assault studies. In addition, a number of associations were found between ASD severity, gender, age, social support, previous trauma, and trauma severity. In the final hierarchical multiple regression model, which included 12 variables, 66 % of the variance in ASD symptom level was accounted for by two peri-trauma variables (perceived helplessness and perceived life threat) and one post-trauma variable (perceived safety after the Robbery). Conclusions: The present study yielded some promising results with regards to the influential role of peri-traumatic and post-traumatic variables in predicting ASD after a Bank Robbery*in particular perceived safety. Although there may be different paths to developing ASD and PTSD, a common core feature may be perceived safety. Furthermore, the results also supported the inclusion of perceived helplessness in the A2 criterion of the DSM-IV ASD diagnosis
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Investigating the psychological impact of Bank Robbery: A cohort study
Journal of anxiety disorders, 2014Co-Authors: Hansen, Cherie Armour, Mark Shevlin, Ask ElklitAbstract:Despite numerous annual Bank robberies worldwide, research in the psychological sequelae of Bank robberies is sparse and characterized by several limitations. To overcome these limitations we investigated the psychological impact of Bank Robbery in a cohort study by comparing general levels of traumatization and somatization in employees never exposed to Robbery and employees exposed to Robbery at different degrees and time-points, while controlling for selected risk factors of posttraumatic distress. Multivariate regression analyses showed that only the acute directly exposed Robbery group which had a significantly higher score on general traumatization and somatization compared to the control group whilst controlling for other factors. In conclusion, Bank Robbery exposure appears to be especially associated with psychological distress in the acute phase and in victims present during the Robbery. After the acute phase, other factors appear more important in predicting general traumatization and somatization in Bank employees compared to exposure to Robbery.
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The latent factor structure of acute stress disorder following Bank Robbery: testing alternative models in light of the pending DSM-5.
The British journal of clinical psychology, 2012Co-Authors: Hansen, Mathias Lasgaard, Ask ElklitAbstract:Objective Acute stress disorder (ASD) was introduced into the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) to identify posttraumatic stress reactions occurring within the first month after a trauma and thus help to identify victims at risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Since its introduction, research into ASD has focused on the prediction of PTSD, whereas only a few studies have investigated the latent structure of ASD. Results of the latter have been mixed. In light of the current proposal for the ASD diagnosis in the pending DSM-5, there is a profound need for empirical studies that investigate the latent structure of ASD prior to the DSM-5 being finalized. Design Based on previous factor analytic research, the DSM-IV, and the proposed DSM-5 formulation of ASD, four different models of the latent structure of ASD were specified and estimated. Method The analyses were based on a national study of Bank Robbery victims (N = 450) using the acute stress disorder scale. Results The results of the confirmatory factor analyses showed that the DSM-IV model provided the best fit to the data. Thus, the present study suggests that the latent structure of ASD may best be characterized according to the four-factor DSM-IV model of ASD (i.e., dissociation, re-experiencing, avoidance, and arousal) following exposure to Bank Robbery. Conclusions The results are pertinent in light of the pending DSM-5 and add to the debate about the conceptualization of ASD. Practitioner Points The present study supports the DSM-IV conceptualization of ASD and thus underlines the need of further research into the ASD structure before the launching of the DSM-5. Clinical theory and practice may be affected in several ways if future research, such as this study, fails to support the proposed structure of ASD in the DSM-5 and new proposals of ASD in the DSM-5 are not set forward and tested. Treatment of acute posttraumatic symptoms will likely become less effective if it focuses on an imprecise conceptualization of ASD. Although possible, it seems unlikely that the results of the present study may simply reflect properties of the ASDS rather than the ASD diagnosis, because the DSM-IV model has been supported in prior studies using both a diagnostic interview and the ASDS. The results of the present study are based on Bank Robbery victims and thus should be generalized to other trauma populations with caution.
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Does Acute Stress Disorder Predict Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following Bank Robbery
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2012Co-Authors: Hansen, Ask ElklitAbstract:Unfortunately, the number of Bank robberies is increasing and little is known about the subsequent risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Several studies have investigated the prediction of PTSD through the presence of acute stress disorder (ASD). However, there have only been a few studies following nonsexual assault. The present study investigated the predictive power of different aspects of the ASD diagnosis and symptom severity on PTSD prevalence and symptom severity in 132 Bank employees. The PTSD diagnosis, based on the three core symptom clusters, was best identified using cutoff scores on the Acute Stress Disorder scale. ASD severity accounted for 40% and the inclusion of other risk factors accounted for 50% of the PTSD severity variance. In conclusion, results indicated that ASD appears to predict PTSD differently following nonsexual assault than other trauma types. ASD severity was a stronger predictor of PTSD than ASD diagnosis.
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assessing a dysphoric arousal model of acute stress disorder symptoms in a clinical sample of rape and Bank Robbery victims
European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 2012Co-Authors: Maj Hansen, Cherie Armour, Ask ElklitAbstract:Background: Since the introduction of Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) into the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) research has focused on the ability of ASD to predict PTSD rather than focusing on addressing ASD’s underlying latent structure. The few existing confirmatory factor analytic (CFA) studies of ASD have failed to reach a clear consensus regarding ASD’s underlying dimensionality. Although, the discrepancy in the results may be due to varying ASD prevalence rates, it remains possible that the model capturing the latent structure of ASD has not yet been put forward. One such model may be a replication of a new five-factor model of PTSD, which separates the arousal symptom cluster into Dysphoric and Anxious Arousal. Given the pending DSM-5, uncovering ASD’s latent structure is more pertinent than ever. Objective: Using CFA, four different models of the latent structure of ASD were specified and tested: the proposed DSM-5 model, the DSM-IV model, a three factor model, and a five factor model separating the arousal symptom cluster. Method: The analyses were based on a combined sample of rape and Bank Robbery victims, who all met the diagnostic criteria for ASD ( N =404) using the Acute Stress Disorder Scale. Results: The results showed that the five factor model provided the best fit to the data. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that the dimensionality of ASD may be best characterized as a five factor structure which separates dysphoric and anxious arousal items into two separate factors, akin to recent research on PTSD’s latent structure. Thus, the current study adds to the debate about how ASD should be conceptualized in the pending DSM-5. Keywords: Acute stress disorder; Acute Stress Disorder Scale; confirmatory factor analysis; Bank Robbery; rape; dysphoric arousal; anxious arousal; DSM-5 (Published: 12 June 2012) Citation: European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2012, 3 : 18201 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v3i0.18201 For the abstract or full text in other languages, please see Supplementary files under Reading Tools online.
Alastair Ruffell - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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maximising trace soil evidence an improved recovery method developed during investigation of a 26 million Bank Robbery
Forensic Science International, 2011Co-Authors: Alastair Ruffell, Anna SandifordAbstract:Abstract Obtaining as much particulate material as possible from questioned items is desirable in forensic science as this allows a range of analyses to be undertaken and the retention of material for others to check. A method of maximising particulate recovery is described using a kidnap case, where minimal staining on clothing (socks) remained as possible indications of where the victim had been held captive. Police intelligence led to a hostage scene that was sampled. Brushing of the socks recovered about 50 sand grains with some silt: ultrasonic agitation and centrifuging recovered over 300 grains of sand, silt and clay. These were visually compared to scene and control samples, allowing exclusion of 52 samples and the retention of one comparison sample as well as other possibles, saving time and money, but maximising sample quantity and quality.
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Maximising trace soil evidence: an improved recovery method developed during investigation of a $26 million Bank Robbery.
Forensic Science International, 2011Co-Authors: Alastair Ruffell, Anna SandifordAbstract:Abstract Obtaining as much particulate material as possible from questioned items is desirable in forensic science as this allows a range of analyses to be undertaken and the retention of material for others to check. A method of maximising particulate recovery is described using a kidnap case, where minimal staining on clothing (socks) remained as possible indications of where the victim had been held captive. Police intelligence led to a hostage scene that was sampled. Brushing of the socks recovered about 50 sand grains with some silt: ultrasonic agitation and centrifuging recovered over 300 grains of sand, silt and clay. These were visually compared to scene and control samples, allowing exclusion of 52 samples and the retention of one comparison sample as well as other possibles, saving time and money, but maximising sample quantity and quality.
Hansen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Investigating the psychological impact of Bank Robbery: A cohort study
Journal of anxiety disorders, 2014Co-Authors: Hansen, Cherie Armour, Mark Shevlin, Ask ElklitAbstract:Despite numerous annual Bank robberies worldwide, research in the psychological sequelae of Bank robberies is sparse and characterized by several limitations. To overcome these limitations we investigated the psychological impact of Bank Robbery in a cohort study by comparing general levels of traumatization and somatization in employees never exposed to Robbery and employees exposed to Robbery at different degrees and time-points, while controlling for selected risk factors of posttraumatic distress. Multivariate regression analyses showed that only the acute directly exposed Robbery group which had a significantly higher score on general traumatization and somatization compared to the control group whilst controlling for other factors. In conclusion, Bank Robbery exposure appears to be especially associated with psychological distress in the acute phase and in victims present during the Robbery. After the acute phase, other factors appear more important in predicting general traumatization and somatization in Bank employees compared to exposure to Robbery.
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The latent factor structure of acute stress disorder following Bank Robbery: testing alternative models in light of the pending DSM-5.
The British journal of clinical psychology, 2012Co-Authors: Hansen, Mathias Lasgaard, Ask ElklitAbstract:Objective Acute stress disorder (ASD) was introduced into the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) to identify posttraumatic stress reactions occurring within the first month after a trauma and thus help to identify victims at risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Since its introduction, research into ASD has focused on the prediction of PTSD, whereas only a few studies have investigated the latent structure of ASD. Results of the latter have been mixed. In light of the current proposal for the ASD diagnosis in the pending DSM-5, there is a profound need for empirical studies that investigate the latent structure of ASD prior to the DSM-5 being finalized. Design Based on previous factor analytic research, the DSM-IV, and the proposed DSM-5 formulation of ASD, four different models of the latent structure of ASD were specified and estimated. Method The analyses were based on a national study of Bank Robbery victims (N = 450) using the acute stress disorder scale. Results The results of the confirmatory factor analyses showed that the DSM-IV model provided the best fit to the data. Thus, the present study suggests that the latent structure of ASD may best be characterized according to the four-factor DSM-IV model of ASD (i.e., dissociation, re-experiencing, avoidance, and arousal) following exposure to Bank Robbery. Conclusions The results are pertinent in light of the pending DSM-5 and add to the debate about the conceptualization of ASD. Practitioner Points The present study supports the DSM-IV conceptualization of ASD and thus underlines the need of further research into the ASD structure before the launching of the DSM-5. Clinical theory and practice may be affected in several ways if future research, such as this study, fails to support the proposed structure of ASD in the DSM-5 and new proposals of ASD in the DSM-5 are not set forward and tested. Treatment of acute posttraumatic symptoms will likely become less effective if it focuses on an imprecise conceptualization of ASD. Although possible, it seems unlikely that the results of the present study may simply reflect properties of the ASDS rather than the ASD diagnosis, because the DSM-IV model has been supported in prior studies using both a diagnostic interview and the ASDS. The results of the present study are based on Bank Robbery victims and thus should be generalized to other trauma populations with caution.
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Does Acute Stress Disorder Predict Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following Bank Robbery
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2012Co-Authors: Hansen, Ask ElklitAbstract:Unfortunately, the number of Bank robberies is increasing and little is known about the subsequent risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Several studies have investigated the prediction of PTSD through the presence of acute stress disorder (ASD). However, there have only been a few studies following nonsexual assault. The present study investigated the predictive power of different aspects of the ASD diagnosis and symptom severity on PTSD prevalence and symptom severity in 132 Bank employees. The PTSD diagnosis, based on the three core symptom clusters, was best identified using cutoff scores on the Acute Stress Disorder scale. ASD severity accounted for 40% and the inclusion of other risk factors accounted for 50% of the PTSD severity variance. In conclusion, results indicated that ASD appears to predict PTSD differently following nonsexual assault than other trauma types. ASD severity was a stronger predictor of PTSD than ASD diagnosis.
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Predictors of acute stress disorder in response to Bank Robbery
European journal of psychotraumatology, 2011Co-Authors: Hansen, Ask ElklitAbstract:Background: Research has shown that robberies in the workplace, in particular those in the Bank sector are traumatising events for many employees. However, research in the acute sequelae of Bank robberies is limited. Objective and design: The present study explores the prevalence and predictors of acute stress disorder (ASD) in a questionnaire survey of Bank employees following a Bank Robbery. Results: Results show that 14.5% (n=22) of participants (N=152) suffered from probable ASD, which is similar to the ASD prevalence found in other interpersonal assault studies. In addition, a number of associations were found between ASD severity, gender, age, social support, previous trauma, and trauma severity. In the final hierarchical multiple regression model, which included 12 variables, 66% of the variance in ASD symptom level was accounted for by two peri-trauma variables (perceived helplessness and perceived life threat) and one post-trauma variable (perceived safety after the Robbery). Conclusions: The present study yielded some promising results with regards to the influential role of peritraumatic and post-traumatic variables in predicting ASD after a Bank Robbery*in particular perceived safety. Although there may be different paths to developing ASD and PTSD, a common core feature may be perceived safety. Furthermore, the results also supported the inclusion of perceived helplessness in the A2 criterion of the DSM-IV ASD diagnosis. Keywords: Robbery; ASD; perceived safety; trauma; predictor For the abstract or full text in other languages, please see Supplementary files in the column to the right (under Reading Tools). (Published: 12 May 2011) Citation: European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2011, 2 : 5864 - DOI: 10.3402/ejpt.v2i0.5864
Cherie Armour - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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does highly symptomatic class membership in the acute phase predict highly symptomatic classification in victims 6 months after traumatic exposure
Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 2016Co-Authors: Maj Hansen, Philip Hyland, Cherie ArmourAbstract:Recently studies have indicated the existence of both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder (ASD) subtypes but no studies have investigated their mutual association. Although ASD may not be a precursor of PTSD per se, there are potential benefits associated with early identification of victims at risk of developing PTSD subtypes. The present study investigates ASD and PTSD subtypes using latent class analysis (LCA) following Bank Robbery (N = 371). Moreover, we assessed if highly symptomatic ASD and selected risk factors increased the probability of highly symptomatic PTSD. The results of LCA revealed a three class solution for ASD and a two class solution for PTSD. Negative cognitions about self (OR = 1.08), neuroticism (OR = 1.09) and membership of the ‘High symptomatic ASD’ class (OR = 20.41) significantly increased the probability of ‘symptomatic PTSD’ class membership. Future studies are needed to investigate the existence of ASD and PTSD subtypes and their mutual relationship.
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Investigating the psychological impact of Bank Robbery: A cohort study
Journal of anxiety disorders, 2014Co-Authors: Hansen, Cherie Armour, Mark Shevlin, Ask ElklitAbstract:Despite numerous annual Bank robberies worldwide, research in the psychological sequelae of Bank robberies is sparse and characterized by several limitations. To overcome these limitations we investigated the psychological impact of Bank Robbery in a cohort study by comparing general levels of traumatization and somatization in employees never exposed to Robbery and employees exposed to Robbery at different degrees and time-points, while controlling for selected risk factors of posttraumatic distress. Multivariate regression analyses showed that only the acute directly exposed Robbery group which had a significantly higher score on general traumatization and somatization compared to the control group whilst controlling for other factors. In conclusion, Bank Robbery exposure appears to be especially associated with psychological distress in the acute phase and in victims present during the Robbery. After the acute phase, other factors appear more important in predicting general traumatization and somatization in Bank employees compared to exposure to Robbery.
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assessing a dysphoric arousal model of acute stress disorder symptoms in a clinical sample of rape and Bank Robbery victims
European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 2012Co-Authors: Maj Hansen, Cherie Armour, Ask ElklitAbstract:Background: Since the introduction of Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) into the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) research has focused on the ability of ASD to predict PTSD rather than focusing on addressing ASD’s underlying latent structure. The few existing confirmatory factor analytic (CFA) studies of ASD have failed to reach a clear consensus regarding ASD’s underlying dimensionality. Although, the discrepancy in the results may be due to varying ASD prevalence rates, it remains possible that the model capturing the latent structure of ASD has not yet been put forward. One such model may be a replication of a new five-factor model of PTSD, which separates the arousal symptom cluster into Dysphoric and Anxious Arousal. Given the pending DSM-5, uncovering ASD’s latent structure is more pertinent than ever. Objective: Using CFA, four different models of the latent structure of ASD were specified and tested: the proposed DSM-5 model, the DSM-IV model, a three factor model, and a five factor model separating the arousal symptom cluster. Method: The analyses were based on a combined sample of rape and Bank Robbery victims, who all met the diagnostic criteria for ASD ( N =404) using the Acute Stress Disorder Scale. Results: The results showed that the five factor model provided the best fit to the data. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that the dimensionality of ASD may be best characterized as a five factor structure which separates dysphoric and anxious arousal items into two separate factors, akin to recent research on PTSD’s latent structure. Thus, the current study adds to the debate about how ASD should be conceptualized in the pending DSM-5. Keywords: Acute stress disorder; Acute Stress Disorder Scale; confirmatory factor analysis; Bank Robbery; rape; dysphoric arousal; anxious arousal; DSM-5 (Published: 12 June 2012) Citation: European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2012, 3 : 18201 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v3i0.18201 For the abstract or full text in other languages, please see Supplementary files under Reading Tools online.
