Psychological Trauma
Research Lab
 
Head: Prof. Yael Lahav
Department of Occupational Therapy
Sackler Faculty of Medicine
Tel Aviv University

Psychological trauma is pervasive in societies worldwide and is associated with substantial costs to the individual and society, making it a global public health concern. In our research we investigate the implications of interpersonal and ongoing traumatic events, such as was captivity, domestic violence, as well as sexual, physical, and emotional abuse during childhood.

 

Our aim is to uncover the mechanisms at the basis of the relations between trauma exposure and various outcomes, including psychological distress and psychopathology (e.g., PTSD, depression, suicidality), somatic and physical health difficulties (e.g., chronic pain, morbidity, somatization) as well as functional difficulties (e.g., vocational, social, and familial functioning). In addition, we explore the interpersonal processes involved in the victim-perpetrator dynamics, known as identification with the aggressor.

 

We use an interdisciplinary approach, advanced research methods and rigorous statistical analyses to understand the underlying dynamics of the questions at hand, and to promote the development of clinical interventions.