Ptsd
Páginas: 5 (1161 palabras)
Publicado: 3 de julio de 2011
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS 1
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Related Therapies
Christian R. Carrion
Psychology 101
Professor Mastriano
June 02, 2011
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS 2
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is classified as an anxiety disorder. It is a disorder that produces symptoms in individuals that prevent them from leading their lives as once presentedprior to a traumatic event. These events can be natural physical, or psychological in aspect and need only occur once for and individual to present symptoms. Many people who experience such traumatic events as hurricane, war, or abuse commonly can resolve the event produced stressors on their own or with little help from therapists. However, those who experience symptoms for more than 30 days can bediagnose with PTSD. The more sever and repetitive the traumatic event(s), the more severe and reoccurring the PTSD symptoms. PTSD can also be correlated to predispositions of one’s genetics, psychological state, and environmental factors. Psychologists today have developed several methods of treatment, with cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing(EMDR) taking the lead.
Keywords: post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, trauma, stress, anxiety, cognitive-behavioral therapy, CBT, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, EMDR, biopsyhcosocial.
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS 3
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Related Therapies
The Definition and Symptoms
Post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly referred to as PTSD, is ananxiety disorder that more and more people today are being diagnosed with due to its developing definition and understanding. It can be produced in an individual by traumatic stress after experiencing or witnessing severely threatening uncontrollable events that instilled in one a sense of fear, helplessness, or horror (Meyers, 2007). PTSD is commonly associated with military members who haveexperienced war, but it is equally devastating in a wide variety of traumatic events in the forms of natural disaster, sexual victimization, physical abuse or interpersonal violence, community violence, life-threatening illnesses, and medical procedures (Kruczek and Salsman, 2006). Survivors may experience physical and emotional stress immediately following such events, many soon subside, but dependingon an individual’s predisposition and personal resiliency these stressors may linger for weeks, years, or even a lifetime. Symptoms can include several but are not limited to the following: flashbacks; intrusive thoughts and haunting memories; nightmares; social withdrawal; insomnia; hyperactivity; avoidance of persons, places, things, and other triggers; and jumpiness (Meyers, 2007; Williams &Poijula, 2002). The more traumatic and frequent the event the more adverse and long-term the outcome (Meyers, 2007). PTSD becomes a diagnosable anxiety disorder when symptoms of traumatic stress have been present for at least four weeks (Meyers, 2007).
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS 4
The Biopsychosocial Approach
A traumatic event alone is not the determining factor for development of PTSD. Aswith other anxiety disorders a biopsychosocial explanation can account for part of the disorder’s development. A survivor’s biological (genetics), psychological, and social-cultural (environment) are all significant interacting roles of one’s predisposition for developing PTSD. Genetic and environmental factors can be one’s previous psychiatric history, family history of psychiatric illness, andoverall risk for psychopathology, while personality traits of impulsivity and neuroticism developed during life will increase an individual’s sensitivity and exposure to stress. Social influences can be composed of upbringing in a bad community, cultural or societal beliefs or acceptance, and either present or non-existent social support (Paris, 2000). Meanwhile, an individual’s psychological...
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Related Therapies
Christian R. Carrion
Psychology 101
Professor Mastriano
June 02, 2011
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS 2
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is classified as an anxiety disorder. It is a disorder that produces symptoms in individuals that prevent them from leading their lives as once presentedprior to a traumatic event. These events can be natural physical, or psychological in aspect and need only occur once for and individual to present symptoms. Many people who experience such traumatic events as hurricane, war, or abuse commonly can resolve the event produced stressors on their own or with little help from therapists. However, those who experience symptoms for more than 30 days can bediagnose with PTSD. The more sever and repetitive the traumatic event(s), the more severe and reoccurring the PTSD symptoms. PTSD can also be correlated to predispositions of one’s genetics, psychological state, and environmental factors. Psychologists today have developed several methods of treatment, with cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing(EMDR) taking the lead.
Keywords: post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, trauma, stress, anxiety, cognitive-behavioral therapy, CBT, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, EMDR, biopsyhcosocial.
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS 3
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Related Therapies
The Definition and Symptoms
Post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly referred to as PTSD, is ananxiety disorder that more and more people today are being diagnosed with due to its developing definition and understanding. It can be produced in an individual by traumatic stress after experiencing or witnessing severely threatening uncontrollable events that instilled in one a sense of fear, helplessness, or horror (Meyers, 2007). PTSD is commonly associated with military members who haveexperienced war, but it is equally devastating in a wide variety of traumatic events in the forms of natural disaster, sexual victimization, physical abuse or interpersonal violence, community violence, life-threatening illnesses, and medical procedures (Kruczek and Salsman, 2006). Survivors may experience physical and emotional stress immediately following such events, many soon subside, but dependingon an individual’s predisposition and personal resiliency these stressors may linger for weeks, years, or even a lifetime. Symptoms can include several but are not limited to the following: flashbacks; intrusive thoughts and haunting memories; nightmares; social withdrawal; insomnia; hyperactivity; avoidance of persons, places, things, and other triggers; and jumpiness (Meyers, 2007; Williams &Poijula, 2002). The more traumatic and frequent the event the more adverse and long-term the outcome (Meyers, 2007). PTSD becomes a diagnosable anxiety disorder when symptoms of traumatic stress have been present for at least four weeks (Meyers, 2007).
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS 4
The Biopsychosocial Approach
A traumatic event alone is not the determining factor for development of PTSD. Aswith other anxiety disorders a biopsychosocial explanation can account for part of the disorder’s development. A survivor’s biological (genetics), psychological, and social-cultural (environment) are all significant interacting roles of one’s predisposition for developing PTSD. Genetic and environmental factors can be one’s previous psychiatric history, family history of psychiatric illness, andoverall risk for psychopathology, while personality traits of impulsivity and neuroticism developed during life will increase an individual’s sensitivity and exposure to stress. Social influences can be composed of upbringing in a bad community, cultural or societal beliefs or acceptance, and either present or non-existent social support (Paris, 2000). Meanwhile, an individual’s psychological...
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