In the aftermath of traumatic events, humans have long recognized psychological wounds even if they lacked modern terminology. References to traumatic stress reactions appear in ancient texts and military accounts, but systematic study began in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Early observers of railway accidents noted “railway spine” in survivors, and physicians like Jean-Martin Charcot and Pierre Janet documented hysteria and dissociative reactions in trauma-exposed patients. During World War I, the massive psychological toll on soldiers led to terms like “shell shock” and “war neurosis.” These were early conceptualizations of combat trauma, though debates raged: were symptoms due to brain “concussion” from exploding shells or the psyche’s reaction to fear? By World War II, terms such as “combat fatigue” reflected recognition of battle’s impact on mind and body.
The Vietnam War became a turning point; the delayed suffering of veterans, along with advocacy by clinicians and survivors of domestic trauma, led to the formal introduction of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the DSM-III (1980) ^1
This legitimized trauma as a clinical category and spurred research into what is now called psychotraumatology, the science of psychological trauma.
Over the past forty years, psychotraumatology has evolved into a global, multidisciplinary field. Key historical milestones include: the recognition of sexual and domestic violence trauma in the 1970s feminist movement; the development of diagnostic criteria for PTSD (and later Acute Stress Disorder and Complex PTSD); and the establishment of specialized research centers and journals. Pioneers such as Judith Herman highlighted that survivors of prolonged, interpersonal trauma (e.g., childhood abuse, captivity) exhibit more complex symptom profiles than those of single-incident trauma, leading to the concept of Complex PTSD or Disorders of Extreme Stress^1
The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) was founded in 1985, reflecting an international collaboration to advance trauma science. Over time, understanding expanded beyond combat and disaster trauma to include developmental trauma (trauma in childhood disrupts developmental processes), intergenerational trauma (how trauma effects can be transmitted across generations), and the pervasive impact of chronic adversity.
Early treatments in the mid-20th century were rudimentary, ranging from cathartic “abreaction” to supportive counseling or sedation, and often fell short for chronic trauma sufferers. By the 1990s, however, the field saw an “explosion of knowledge” ^1
The contributions of neuroscience, attachment theory, and evidence-based psychotherapies like EMDR enriched Psychotraumatology. Clinicians came to recognize the importance of phased trauma treatment (as articulated by Herman and others) and the need for a trauma-informed approach in all mental health services. Trauma-informed care principles – realizing the prevalence of trauma, recognizing its signs, responding in an accommodating way, and resisting re-traumatization – have now been embraced in healthcare, education, and social services worldwide.
Today, Psychotraumatology is a globally relevant discipline. Trauma is a new paradigm in psychology, evolving from a perspective of one single event (accidents, war, catastrophes) to the neurobiological effects on the person suffering Trauma. “Trauma is not the event; Trauma is what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you.”
“Trauma is not the event, Trauma is what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you.”
Cross-cultural studies have illuminated that while core features of trauma response are universal, expressions and healing practices can vary by culture.
The field continues to integrate traditional healing wisdom with scientific findings. In summary, from “shell shock” to PTSD, from Single-Event Trauma to Trauma-related dissociation, we now have a trauma spectrum where clinicians need a better understanding.
Psychotraumatology is not only the study of trauma, is about alleviating human suffering inflicted by traum.a