Chapter 5 Flashcards
What is a stressor
an external event or situation that places a physical or psychological demand on a person
What is stress
Internal psychological or physiological response to a stressor
What can occur in traumatic events
normative reaction, also known as flight of flight
How does anxiety affect a person after the danger has passed?
It can persist even tho it is no longer present
What is Acute Stress Disorder(ASD)
Occur within one month after exposure to a traumatic event, and lasts from 3 days to one month
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD)
Symptoms last longer than one month and are as a result of exposure to extreme trauma
What is the difference between ASD and PTSD
Symptom duration, a person, likely receives the ASD diagnosis and then gets PTSD if the symptoms last longer
What are the risks of PTSD and ASD
Extreme Stressors
severe physical injuries
multiple traumas
individual characteristics(biopsychosocial factors)
Can also depend on individual personality traits such as optimism and other things
What are the symptoms of PTSD and ASD?
Direct (experiencing) or indirect (observing) exposure to a traumatic stressor
Intrusive symptoms + intense physiological reactivity associated with the traumatic event (flashbacks)
Persistent evasion of stimuli related to trauma (avoidance behavioral manifestation)
Alterations in cognitions/mood associated with event + inability to experience positive emotions (anhedonia: survivor’s guilt; common in PTSD)
Potential for depersonalization
Heightened autonomic arousal/reactivity (hypervigilance: easily startled)
When is PTSD and ASD likely to be higher?
It is more likely to be caused by other people rather than environmental because humans are social creatures
What is the Biological etiology of PTSD and ASD?
Highly sensitized and reactive autonomic nervous system(ANS arousal), Chronic cortisol/adrenaline release, 1/3 risk due to genetic disposition
What is the Psychological etiology of PTSD and ASD?
Dysfunctional cognition regarding oneself or environment, positive cognitive styles are protective factors(optimism), trait anxiety, depression, neuroticism(feel negative emotions strongly)
What is the Social Dimension of the etiology of PTSD and ASD?
Stress in Family life in childhood, social isolation, lack of social support, above average cognitive skills are protective, importance of confining and disclosure
What is the Sociocultural etiology of PTSD and ASD>
Recent immigrants and refugees from war-torn countries, prejudice and discrimination, ethnic group differences, women are 2x more likely to get PTSD
How can talking/confining to people about your event help?
It is a therapist’s job to create a nonjudgemental environment for their clients, talking about the event can cause you to look at it objectively, and support groups help the wrong thinking, “it only happened to me”
