Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
ANSWERS
PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a severe accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, or rape, or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence, or severe injury.
People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings about their traumatic experience that last long after the event ends. They may relive the event in flashbacks or nightmares, experience sadness, fear, or anger, and feel detached or estranged from others. People with PTSD may avoid situations or people who remind them of the traumatic event and may have strong adverse reactions to seemingly innocuous things such as a loud noise or an unintentional touch.
A traumatic event must be experienced for PTSD to be diagnosed. However, the exposure may be indirect rather than direct. For example, PTSD may develop in a person who witnesses the violent death of a close family member or friend. It can also happen due to repeated exposure to gruesome details of the trauma, such as police officers who are exposed to more information about child abuse cases.
Diagnosis and Symptoms
PTSD symptoms are classified into four categories. The severity of specific symptoms can vary.
Intrusive thoughts, such as repeated, involuntary memories, distressing dreams, or flashbacks to the traumatic event, are examples of intrusive thoughts. Flashbacks can be so vivid that people believe they are reliving or seeing the traumatic experience.
Avoidance: Avoiding traumatic event reminders may include avoiding people, places, activities, objects, and situations that may elicit distressing memories. People may try to avoid recalling or reflecting on the traumatic event. They may be reluctant to discuss what happened or how they feel about it.
Changes in cognition and mood:
- Inability to remember important aspects of the traumatic event, negative thoughts and feelings leading to ongoing and distorted beliefs about oneself or others (e.g., “I am bad,” “No one can be trusted”).
- Distorted thoughts about the cause or consequences of the event lead to wrongly blaming self or others.
- Ongoing fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame.
- Much less interest in previously enjoyed activities.
- I felt detached or estranged from others (a void of happiness or satisfaction).
Arousal and reactivity symptoms may include being irritable and having angry outbursts; behaving recklessly or in a self-destructive manner; being suspicious of one’s surroundings; being easily startled, or having difficulty concentrating or sleeping.
Many people who witness a traumatic event experience symptoms similar to those described in the following days. To be diagnosed with PTSD, a person’s symptoms must last for more than a month and cause significant distress or problems in daily functioning. Many people develop symptoms within three months of the trauma, but symptoms can appear later and last for months or even years. PTSD is frequently associated with other conditions such as depression, substance abuse, memory problems, and other physical and mental health issues.
QUESTION
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
It is estimated that almost 7% of the U.S. population will experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in their lifetime (National Institute of Mental Health, 2017). This debilitating disorder often interferes with an individual’s ability to function in daily life. Common symptoms of anxiousness and depression frequently lead to behavioral issues, adolescent substance abuse issues, and even physical ailments. For this Assignment, you examine a PTSD video case study and consider how you might assess and treat clients presenting with PTSD.
To prepare:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide about diagnosing and treating PTSD.
- View the media Presentation Example: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and assess the client in the case study.