Acute Stress Reaction (2) Flashcards
What is it?
What are some examples of the causes?
What symptoms may occur?
How is it managed?
➊ Experience of symptoms after a particularly stressful event – Symptoms usually very severe and occurs after an unexpected life crisis (last 2-3 days)
➋ Serious accident, sudden bereavement, sexual assault, terrorist incidents, major disasters, war
➌ • Psychological – Anxiety, Low mood, Irritability, Mood swings, Poor sleep, Poor concentration, Desire to be alone
• Recurrent dreams or flashbacks
• Avoidance of anything that triggers memories e.g. people, conversations
• Reckless/aggressive behaviours
• Emotional numbness and Detachment
• Physical – Palpitations, Chest pain, Headache, Nausea, Abdominal pain, Dyspnoea
➍ No treatment as symptoms usually resolves once stressful event is over
At what point does it become an Acute Stress Disorder?
What are the management options?
If pt is refractory to all management options, what should they then be assessed for?
➊ If symptoms last between 3 days to 1 month
➋ • CBT often the treatment of choice
• Counselling – Processing of trauma - Not often done soon after incident as it can make things worse
• Medication – B-blockers PRN for symptomatic relief
➌ PTSD
Adjustment Disorder:
What is it?
What’s the key difference between it and an ASR?
How does it present?
➊ Prolonged severe abnormal response to stress within 1 month of a stressful life event, lasting up to 6 months
➋ An ASR follows an extremely stressful event, whereas adjustment disorder follows a less stressful event
➌ • Anxiety – Irritability, Increased arousal, Insomnia
• Depression – Tearfulness, Low mood, but usually w/o any biological features, such as decreased sleep or appetite
