Western hosts international traumatic stress conference

It can be an occupational hazard: compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma experienced by psychiatrists, psychologists and other helping professionals. Françoise Mathieu is a leader in training professionals self-care, and will give the opening presentation tonight at 4:30 p.m. for a conference called "Brain, Mind & Body: Trauma, Neurobiology and The Healing Relationship," at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn and Conference Centre in London. Media is welcome to attend this event, or any of the sessions on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 21,22).

The conference is the second in a bi-annual series sponsored by the Harris-Woodman Chair in Psyche-Soma at Western's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. The conference attracts psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses and other therapists from across North America and Europe.

Dr. Ruth Lanius, who holds the Harris-Woodman Chair in Psyche-Soma, says the conference will outline the progress that has been made in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). "We are very pleased to welcome a number of international experts in the field of traumatic stress. We are hoping to have an in-depth discussion about underlying brain mechanisms as well as novel treatment interventions for stress related disorders." Dr. Lanius is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry, and the Director of the PTSD Research Unit at Western. She also established the Traumatic Stress Service and the Traumatic Stress Service Workplace Program at London Health Sciences Centre.

A complete agenda can be found at: http://www.sosworkshops.ca/brain-mind-body/index.php

For more information, please contact Dr. Ruth Lanius, 519-663-3306, Ruth.lanius@lhsc.on.ca