Ch 13 PTSD Book Key Points

Question 1

Intense traumatic events that disrupt peoples’ lives can lead to:

Answer 1

an acute stress disorder from 2 days to 4 weeks following the trauma.

Autism spectrum disorders can be a precursor to PTSD.

Question 2

PTSD is a pattern of behavior following:

Answer 2

a major trauma beginning at least 3 months after the event or even months or years later.

Symptoms include feelings of guilt and shame, low self-esteem, re-experiencing events, hyperarousal, and insomnia.

Question 3

Clients with PTSD may also develop:

Answer 3

depression, anxiety disorders, or alcohol and drug abuse.

Question 4

PTSD can affect:

Answer 4

children, adolescents, adults, or the elderly.

Question 5

PTSD occurs in countries around the world. People who flee their native countries for asylum benefit from:

Answer 5

remaining connected to their cultures.

Question 6

Treatment for PTSD includes:

Answer 6

individual and group therapy, self-help groups, and medication, usually SSRI antidepressants, venlafaxine, or risperidone.

Question 7

Counseling offered immediately after a traumatic event can help people:

Answer 7

process what has happened and perhaps avoid PTSD.

Question 8

Dissociation is a:

Answer 8

defense mechanism that protects the emotional self from the full reality of abusive or traumatic events during and after those events.

Question 9

Individuals with a history of ___ may develop dissociative disorders.

Answer 9

childhood physical and/or sexual abuse

Question 10

Dissociative disorders have the essential feature of disruption in the usually integrated functions of:

Answer 10

consciousness, memory, identity, and environmental perception.

Question 11

Survivors of trauma and abuse may be admitted to the hospital for:

Answer 11

safety concerns or stabilization of intense symptoms such as flashbacks or dissociative episodes.

Question 12

The nurse can help the client minimize dissociative episodes or flashbacks through:

Answer 12

grounding techniques and reality orientation.

Question 13

Important nursing interventions for survivors of abuse and trauma include:

Answer 13

protecting the client’s safety,
helping the client learn to manage stress and emotions,
and working with the client to build a network of community support.

Question 14

Important self-awareness issues for the nurse include:

Answer 14

managing his or her own feelings and reactions about traumatic events, remaining nonjudgmental regardless of circumstances, and listening to clients’ expressions of despair or distress.