The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has updated its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including with new information specifically addressed to individuals in the European Economic Area. As described in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences.

Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.

×

A substantial majority of adults in the United States will experience a potentially traumatic event (PTE) in their lifetime. A considerable proportion of those individuals will go on to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Distinguishing between those who will develop PTSD and those who will recover, however, remains as a challenge to the field. Recent work has pointed to the increased potential of identifying individuals at greatest risk for PTSD through repeated assessment during the acute posttrauma period, the 30-day period after the PTE. Obtaining the necessary data during this period, however, has proven to be a challenge. Technological innovations such as personal mobile devices and wearable passive sensors have given the field new tools to capture nuanced in vivo changes indicative of recovery or nonrecovery. Despite their potential, there are numerous points for clinicians and research teams to consider when implementing these technologies into acute posttrauma care. The limitations of this work and considerations for future research in the use of technology during the acute posttrauma period are discussed.

Access content

To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.