What I was thinking/what I would do differently: Clinical research

At the 2023 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies annual meeting, a panel of three distinguished investigators and clinicians convened to reflect on their careers, their contributions to the field of traumatic stress disorders, and the lessons learned over the years. Dr. Terence M. Keane has guided the development and deployment of evidence-based care, shaping evaluation guidelines and best treatment practices for traumatic stress pathology. Dr. Sheila Rauch, a pioneer in the development of prolonged exposure therapy, has significantly contributed to the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other traumatic stress disorders. Dr. Richard Bryant has developed targeted psychological treatments for traumatic stress and prolonged grief, adapting to the diverse needs, mechanisms, and cultural contexts of patients. These individuals’ collective experiences span from the establishment of the PTSD diagnosis to the current proliferation of scientific knowledge on its epidemiology, assessment, and treatment. Their unique yet overlapping contributions have provided invaluable guidelines for the next generation of clinicians and investigators. This panel discussion offers a retrospective look at their careers and a forward-looking perspective on the future of traumatic stress treatment.