POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER BY ISEL ADAME

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISOARDER (PTSD) An anxiety disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, and /or insomnia that lingers for four weeks or more after a traumatic experiences.

ASSOCIATED FEATURES Re-experiencing the traumatic event Avoiding reminders of the trauma Increased anxiety and emotional arousal

ASSOCIATED FEATURES The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of the following were present: (1) The person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others. (2) The person’s response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror. Note: In children, this may be expressed instead by disorganized or agitated behavior.

ASSOCIATED FEATURES The traumatic event is persistently reexperienced in one (or more) of the following ways: (3) Recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the event, including images, thoughts, or perceptions. Note: In young children, repetitive play may occur in which themes or aspects of the trauma are expressed. (4) Recurrent distressing dreams of the event. Note: In children, there may be frightening dreams without recognizable content. (5) Acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring (includes a sense of reliving the experience; illusions, hallucinations, and dissociative flashback episodes, including those that occur on awakening or when intoxicated). Note: In young children, trauma-specific reenactment may occur. (6) Intense psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event. (7) Physiological reactivity on exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event.

ASSOCIATED FEATURES Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness (not present before the trauma), as indicated by three (or more) of the following: (8) Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, or conversations associated with the trauma (9) Efforts to avoid activities, places, or people that arouse recollections of the trauma (10) Inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma (11) Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities (12) Feeling of detachment or estrangement from others (13) Restricted range of affect (e.g., unable to have loving feelings) (14) Sense of a foreshortened future (e.g., does not expect to have a career, marriage, children, or a normal lifespan)

ASSOCIATED FEATURES D. Persistent symptoms of increased arousal (not present before the trauma), as indicated by two (or more) of the following: (1) Difficulty falling or staying asleep (2) Irritability or outbursts of anger (3) Difficulty concentrating (4) Hypervigilance (5) Exaggerated startle response Duration of the disturbance (symptoms in Criteria B, C, and D) is more than 1 month. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

ETIOLOGY War Natural disasters Car or plane crashes Terrorist attacks Sudden death of a loved one Rape Kidnapping Assault Sexual or physical abuse Childhood neglect

PREVALENCE 8 % of the United States population

TREATMENT Explore your thoughts and feelings about the trauma Work through feelings of guilt, self-blame, and mistrust Learn how to cope with and control intrusive memories Address problems PTSD has caused in your life and relationships

PROGNOSIS The prognosis depends on the severity and length a person has had the disorder for. The majority of the patients respond to psychotherapy. OCD has shown that psychotherapy can help change the brains chemistry function. If people with PTSD do not receive treatment then they may be stuck in a Hyperaroused state. This will eventually add more damage to that persons brain. People often also have a higher risk of suicide after taking medication and not taking medication.

REFERENCESE Haligin, R.P.,Whitbourne, S. K.(2005). Abnormal psychology: clinical perspective on psychological disorders. New York. NY: McGraw-hill Melinda Smith, Jeanne Segal, (2011) Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).Retrieved April 19, ms_treatment.htm ms_treatment.htm Appendix E: DSM-IV-TR Criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Pease,M.(n.d.). Post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd).Retrieved from [ e10_em.htm]

DISCUSSION QUESTION What is PTSD ?