When stress constitutes trauma and trauma constitutes crisis: The stress-trauma-crisis continuum. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention

The literature indicates researchers and practitioners often confuse the terms stress, trauma, and crisis. Commonly these terms describe both the event and the response, which is circular reasoning. This article attempts to address the confusion through definition of terms, explanation of the stress-trauma-crisis continuum, and a case study to illustrate points. The correct use of terms is essential for appropriate assessment, intervention, and outcome measurement. [Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 3:27–35 (2003)] KEY WORDS: stress, crisis, trauma events, perceptions, appraisal, perceived coping