1. PTSD in Skulduggery Pleasant Dark Days
By Christian Christopherson

2. What is PTSD? PTSD stands for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
A disorder in response to extreme physical or psychological strain.
Affects the “fight-or-flight” response in people
Causes people to feel afraid or tense

3. Four Core Clusters Symptoms of PTSD 1st
Frequent recall of an event (unpleasant)
2nd
Purposely avoids situations

4. Symptoms of PTSD (continued)
3rd
Negative alterations in thinking, moods, and emotions
4th
Increased physical arousal

5. To be Diagnosed with PTSD
1+ Re-occurring symptom
3+ avoidance symptoms
2+ hyperarousal symptoms
These must be evident for at least 1 month

6. Who is Skulduggery Pleasant?
“Skulduggery Pleasant; wise cracking detective, powerful magician, master of dirty tricks and burglary (in the name of the greater good, of course), oh yeah, and dead!” – Derek Landy

7. Skulduggery and his PTSD
Relation to Core Symptoms
Constant recall of torture
Doesn’t tell anyone of the situation in detail

8. Skulduggery and his PTSD (continued)
Relation to Core Symptoms (continued)
Doubts that he’s been saved early in the story
Feel’s like he shouldn’t have been saved
Constantly feels as if he’s being followed and isn’t safe

9. Treatment Therapy Medication Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Antidepressants (Zoloft)
Benzodiazepines
Antipsychotics

10. References
ptsd/index.shtml
Hockenbury, D. H. & Hockenbury, S. E. (2014). Psychological disorders, Psychology (pp ). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Landy, D. (2010). Skulduggery Pleasant Dark Days. London, England: HarperCollins.