Clinically relevant historical trauma sequelae: A systematic review

Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review (SR) was to present the current state of research on historical trauma, and the topics closely related to its semantic space that include intergenerational trauma, collective trauma, and extended cultural bodily and mental responses, in order to identify gaps in the literature that need to be addressed.

Methods: A search of empirical studies from 1990 to 2022 was performed via Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EBSCOhost-PsychInfo, and Embase, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist.

Results: The initial search yielded 1012 studies, 52 of which were included in the current review. The results show that the historical trauma concept has a high potential for new research in the field of Global Mental Health. Gaps in the literature were identified, including a lack of standard features of historical trauma, and assessments of historical trauma in additional contexts than its original fields of application with Indigenous Americans.

Conclusion: Although the introduction of the concept of historical trauma was intended to fill the gap of trauma-related difficulties not covered by the criteria of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this concept needs further scientific refinement.