Acute Stress disorder and PTSD Flashcards
when to screen for PTSD?
new onset insomnia, anxiety, fear, interpersonal conflicts, or escalating substance use.
how to screen for PTSD
intrusive recollections of traumatic events (memories, nightmares, flashbacks), assessing for symptoms of hyperarousal (sleep disturbance, hypervigilance, irritability), negative mood (anger decreased interested and emotional detachment) and avoidance (ppl or situations that are reminders)
clinical features of acute stress disorder:
duration >3 days and <1 month
exposure to actual or threatened trauma
symptoms in following categories;
avoidance of internal memories or external reminders
intrusion: (nightmares and flashbacks)
dissociation (amnesia of event or derealization)
arousal (insomnia, hypervigilance, startle)
negative mood
Acute stress disorder
is like the acute disorder associated with a traumatic event. Long term becomes PTSD
Can treat if impairment is severe regardless of duration
Management of Acute stress disorder:
trauma focused brief cognitive behavioral therapy
consider medication for insomnia, intense anxiety
monitor for PTSD (symptom duration >1 month)
acute stress disorder develops during which time frame?
within 4 weeks of traumatic event
characteristic qualities of acute stress disorder
intrusive re-experience (distressing memories, nightmares, flashbacks) avoid reminders of event arousal symptoms (sleep disturbance, irritability, impaired concentration, hypervigilance and exaggerated startle response
exposure to life threatening trauma
avoidance of reminders and dissociation
nightmares, flashbacks and intrusive memories
emotional detachment, negative mood, decreased interest in activities
sleep disturbance or hyper vigilance, irritability
Duration >1 month
PTSD clinical features
depersonalization and derealization can be a part of PTSD
not diagnosed as a separate disorder when PTSD criteria are met.
1st line treatment of PTSD is
trauma focused cognitive behavioral psychotherapy and SSRI like sertraline.
can use prazosin - alpha adrenergic receptor blocker has been helpful for decreasing nightmares and improve sleep in pts who have PTSD and used as an adjunct to SSRI or SNR I
medical treatment of specifically nightmares and sleep disturbances
alpha 1 adrengeric blocker
prazosin can help
do beta blockers and topiramate help with hyperarousal or mood stabilizing with PTSD?
no.
do not pick them. insufficient evidence or largely negative studies.