iPTSD
Awareness
Introduction
iPTSD Questionnaire
Data and Results
iPTSD.org
Introduction
Institutional, iatrogenic, or system-induced trauma describe trauma caused by the people, systems, and interventions who are supposed to help.
Institutional trauma may be deliberate, as in whistleblower retaliation, or accidental.
It can be caused by many things, including:
- systems of oppression
- exploitation of non-oppressive systems by bad actors
- pseudoscientific practices
- unethical practitioners
We don’t know how many people are affected by it because we don’t track them. In part, this is because some institutions and administrators do not want it to be tracked.
Trust Betrayed
Even though we're spending more money and effort on improving important services, people are trusting them less than ever. It's not normal to feel scared or uncomfortable talking to someone who is supposed to help you, like a counselor, pastor, or the police.
Sadly, some of these services have a history of hurting people instead of helping them. This makes a lot of people not trust them anymore.
Also, these places sometimes don't want to say they're wrong because they're afraid of getting into trouble. So, they might blame the people they're supposed to help, which can make things even worse.
Raising Awareness
We propose three categories of trauma:
Caused by the structure and function of an organization, and/or their historical role as a system of oppression.
Caused by the actions or inaction of individuals within a broken organization, such as corruption or dysfunction.
Caused by the treatment itself. This can be due to errors, paradoxical patient reactions, pseudoscientific practices, or unqualified practitioners.
UNDERSTANDING SYSTEM-INDUCED TRAUMA
System-induced trauma is caused by the inherent structure or nature of a system, the role of the system in society, or its historical role in society.
Survivors have been harmed by systems that are functioning as designed. It is frustrating and challenging for survivors and advocates because many people assert that the system isn’t broken and there is nothing to fix.
law enforcement
Laws disproportionately targeting marginalized communities, leading to intergenerational trauma, even though the system operates as designed.
climate and science denial
Regulations allowing environmental harm affect marginalized and indigenous communities the most, causing health, livelihood, and cultural traumas.
financial institutions
Policies prioritizing profit over people, like high-interest rates for those with lower incomes, systematically exclude and cause economic trauma.
education
Standardized tests and curricula that don't fit all learning styles or cultures, systematically disadvantaging certain students and perpetuating educational inequities.
Understanding Institutional Trauma
Institutional trauma is caused by a broken, corrupt, or weaponized system. In contrast to systems-induced trauma, the system was not functioning as intended, whether due to staffing shortages, a lack of evidence-based policies, unethical employees, or being exploited by external forces.
SWATTING
Misuse of emergency services by bad actors to provoke an armed law enforcement response against innocent individuals, exploiting the system's rapid response mechanism for harm.
CORRUPTION
Internal corruption within institutions can create an environment where employees or citizens are afraid to report misconduct, leading to a culture of fear and trauma.
Unethical Medical Practices
Instances where healthcare providers perform unnecessary procedures for profit or fail to adhere to consent protocols, betraying patient trust and causing trauma through abuse of authority and violation of ethical standards.
educational negligence
Schools or universities ignoring or mishandling cases of bullying, sexual assault, or discrimination, leading to a lack of trust and safety for students and staff, and demonstrating a failure in the institution's duty to protect and foster a healthy learning environment.
Understanding iatrogenic trauma
Iatrogenic trauma is trauma from the treatment itself. People react differently to treatments, just like how everyone experiences trauma in their own way. Harm can happen if the treatment isn't right for the patient, if it's done wrong, or if it's given by someone who's not qualified.
Treatments that can help a lot can also cause a lot of harm. That's why there are strict rules, licenses for professionals, and guidelines based on solid evidence to try to prevent harm.
medication ALLERGIES & side-effects
Harm can occur when a patient experiences severe side effects from a medication or when there is a dangerous interaction between multiple medications. For example, the blood thinner warfarin can cause excessive bleeding if not closely monitored.
OPIATE EPIDEMIC
Unethical research and marketing urged doctors to give strong painkillers to people who didn't really need them. Even though the patients felt better at first, it ended up causing a lot of harm.
diagnostic errors
Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can lead to incorrect treatment, unnecessary procedures, or lack of necessary treatment, causing harm to patients. For example, misdiagnosing a benign tumor as malignant can lead to unnecessary chemotherapy.
Surgical complications
Any surgery carries a risk of complications, such as infections, blood clots, or unintended damage to surrounding tissues. For instance, surgeries involving the removal of a tumor may inadvertently damage nearby organs or nerves.
Understanding The Differences
There is still overlap in this emerging area of research. We believe it is important to note whether the system was operating as intended when the trauma occurred.
System-Induced
Institutional
Iatrogenic
A system working as intended
Caused by rules or nature of the system
Caused by corrupted or broken systems
Caused by breaking the rules
Caused by the treatment
Caused by patient’s unique reaction
Caused by lack of evidence
Prevented by changing the rules
Prevented by changing the people
Prevented by changing the treatment
iPTSD
iPTSD (Institutional PTSD) is a specific form of PTSD that develops in response to trauma caused by institutions or systems—like schools, hospitals, or the legal system—that were supposed to help or protect you but instead caused harm.
This isn't just about one bad day or moment; it's about a harmful pattern or event within a system that's meant to be trusted, leading to feelings of betrayal, fear, and prolonged stress that resemble PTSD.
It is important to distinguish between institutional trauma and institutional PTSD. Trauma is the initial emotional wound, PTSD is when that wound doesn't heal properly and continues to cause pain.
iPTSD points out that the source of that unhealing injury or re-injury are the very institutions designed to prevent such wounds in the first place.
How to help
Helping someone with iPTSD involves understanding, patience, and support, especially because their trust in systems and institutions has been shattered. Here are some ways you can help:
Educate yourself
Understand what iPTSD is and the ways it can affect someone. This knowledge helps in being empathetic and supportive in the right ways. iPTSD victims may respond poorly to standard mental health advice.
offer practical help
Sometimes, helping with everyday tasks or being there during appointments can reduce the stress and extreme sense of isolation they might feel.
Promote Self-Care
Encourage practices that promote well-being and stress relief, like exercise, meditation, or hobbies. Sometimes, focusing on positive activities can offer a respite from their struggles.
believe victims
Support their truth by listening without judgment, as institutions often undermine their experiences through dismissal, gaslighting, and intimidation.
be patient
Healing from iPTSD can be a long process. Show patience and understanding that their recovery journey is unique and may have ups and downs.
be kind
Always approach with kindness and understanding, recognizing their strength and respecting their journey towards healing."
advocate for change
Be an ally in advocating for systemic changes that reduce the risk of institutional trauma. This can include supporting policies that promote transparency, accountability, and victim support within institutions.
see something, say something
Empower action by speaking up and working together to highlight and address misconduct or harmful practices within institutions, ensuring a safer environment for everyone.
DON’T GIVE HOTLINE NUMBERS OR REPORT THEM
Unless there's an immediate, urgent concern, avoid pressuring them to seek help. Individuals experiencing iPTSD know they can look up hotline numbers or resources online when they're ready.
Conclusion
Empower, Advocate, and Innovate for iPTSD Awareness and Healing
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The prevalence of iPTSD remains unclear due to its emerging research status and institutional resistance.
Standard mental health interventions may not always be effective for iPTSD victims (and may make them worse), requiring tailored approaches
There's a crucial need for further research to better understand and support individuals affected by iPTSD.
Get Involved!
Ending iPTSD is a community effort
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Resources
Related Research
Personal Stories
Digital Resources
Links to papers, sites, and other resources related to iPTSD.
Listen to what iPTSD victims have to say, in their own words.
Infographics and images to help spread the word on Social Media. Sharing is caring!
Contact the Researchers
If you or a loved one have been affected by iPTSD, we’d love to hear from you. Everything is always confidential, and we will not call “the mental health police” on you.
Contact Details
hello@iptsd.org
Requests and Feedback
info@iptsd.org
