CBT for PTSD (can Skip)

Question 1

What is PTSD?

Answer 1

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing traumatic events.

Question 2

What are the diagnostic criteria for PTSD according to DSM-5?

Answer 2

Exposure to trauma, re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance behaviors, cognition and mood alterations, arousal and reactivity, functional impairment.

Question 3

What are examples of re-experiencing symptoms in PTSD?

Answer 3

• Intrusive thoughts
• Flashbacks
• Nightmares
• Emotional/physical distress

Question 4

List some avoidance behaviors associated with PTSD.

Answer 4

• Avoiding trauma-related thoughts
• Avoiding reminders of the trauma

Question 5

What cognitive and mood alterations are common in PTSD?

Answer 5

• Negative self-perception
• Loss of interest in activities
• Difficulty remembering key aspects of the trauma

Question 6

What are some common arousal and reactivity symptoms of PTSD?

Answer 6

• Hypervigilance
• Irritability
• Reckless behavior
• Difficulty concentrating and sleeping

Question 7

What is considered functional impairment in PTSD?

Answer 7

Symptoms last longer than a month and disrupt daily functioning.

Question 8

What are some risk factors for developing PTSD?

Answer 8

• Female gender
• Childhood trauma
• Psychiatric history
• High-impact trauma events
• Lack of social support

Question 9

What does Ehlers and Clark’s cognitive model suggest about PTSD?

Answer 9

PTSD arises when the memory of trauma is encoded in a way that creates a sense of current, ongoing threat.

1. This includes memory disturbances causing lack of context and making the trauma into other context
2. Negative appraisals such as a weak because I couldn’t prevent it which amplifies distress.

Question 10

What are memory disturbances in the context of PTSD?

Answer 10

Traumatic memories lack context, making them feel immediate and unresolved.

Question 11

What is cognitive restructuring in CBT for PTSD?

Answer 11

Challenging and replacing irrational thoughts.

Question 12

What is the core element of psychoeducation in CBT for PTSD?

Answer 12

Explain PTSD symptoms and normalize the experience.

Question 13

What is the effectiveness of CBT in treating PTSD?

Answer 13

CBT is the gold-standard treatment with robust evidence of effectiveness.

Question 14

What are some common symptoms of PTSD related to negative appraisals?

Answer 14

• Irritability/Anger
• Emotional Numbing
• Flashbacks/Intrusions/Nightmares
• Difficulty Concentrating

Question 15

What are external triggers for PTSD?

Answer 15

• Rain
• Countryside
• Smell of burning
• Cars
• Specific songs

Question 16

True or False: Avoidance behaviors can include avoiding people and places related to the trauma.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

What is a reliving exercise in CBT for PTSD?

Answer 17

The client recounts their trauma in first person, present tense, to restructure memory.

Question 18

What is the purpose of the Impact of Events Scale – Revised (IES-R)?

Answer 18

Measures PTSD symptoms.

Question 19

Fill in the blank: A common cognitive strategy for PTSD is _______.

Answer 19

Thought Suppression

Question 20

What is one example of a self-management strategy in CBT?

Answer 20

• Grounding techniques
• Relaxation exercises

Question 21

What does trigger discrimination help clients with PTSD do?

Answer 21

Distinguish between ‘then’ (trauma) and ‘now’ (safety).

Question 22

What is a common negative thought a PTSD survivor might have?

Answer 22

I’m weak because I couldn’t prevent it.

Question 23

What are some strategies to control threats in PTSD?

Answer 23

• Avoidance behaviors
• Hypervigilance
• Cognitive strategies