Acute stress reaction (edit)

Question 1

Define acute stress reaction.

Answer 1

Transient disorder of significant severity which develops in an individual without any apparent mental disorder in response to exceptional(significant) physical and / or mental stress, and which usually subsides within hours or days.

Immediate causal temporal relationship with the trigger event.

Symptoms appear immediately / within minutes of stressor.

‘Daze’, depression, anxiety, despair, over activity, and withdrawal may all be seen, variably

Question 2

Who is ASR more common in?

Answer 2

• F>M
• Prevalence is 5-20%

Question 3

What are some examples of causes of ASR?

Answer 3

• Natural disaster
• Motor vehicle accident
• Mild traumatic brain injury
• Burn
• Industrial accident
• Witnessing a mass shooting

Question 4

What is the aetiology of ASR?

Answer 4

Occur in response to a variety of stressors

The severity is a complex function of degree, quantity, duration, reversibility, environment and personal context

Psychodynamic - personality structure and the use of appropriate coping mechanisms are apparent key factors

Question 5

What are some associations of/ risk factors for ASR?

Answer 5

• History of a pretrauma psychiatric disorder,
• History of traumatic exposures prior to recent exposure,
• Female gender,
• Trauma severity,
• Neuroticism,
• Avoidant coping

Question 6

What is the management of ASR?

Answer 6

Self limiting

Supportive only