Chapter 6 - Disorders of Trauma and Stress Flashcards
What are the two components of the State of Stress?
A stressor and a stress response
What is a stressor?
The event that creates the demands
What is a stress response?
The person’s reactions to the demands
How is our response to stressors influenced?
Our responses are influenced by the way we judge both the events and our capacity to react to them in a effective way
DSM-5 “Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders” include?
Disorders in which trauma and extraordinary stress trigger a range of significant stress symptoms, including a heighten arousal, anxiety and mood problems, memory and orientation difficulties and behavioural disturbances
Two of these DSM-5 “Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders” are?
Acute Stress disorder and post traumatic stress disorder
What is another list of disorders by DSM-5?
“Dissociative disorders” which are a group of disorders also triggered by traumatic events, in which the primary symptoms are severe memory and orientation problems
How are the features of arousal occur?
The features of arousal are set in motion by the brain structure called the hypothalamus, when our brain interprets a situation as dangerous, neurotransmitters in the hypothalamus are released, triggering the firing of neutrons through the brain and the release of chemicals throughout the body
How do the features of arousal occur?
The features of arousal are set in motion by the brain structure called the hypothalamus, when our brain interprets a situation as dangerous, neurotransmitters in the hypothalamus are released, triggering the firing of neutrons through the brain and the release of chemicals throughout the body
What is the autonomic nervous system?
The network of nerve fibres that connect the central nervous system to all the other organs of the body
What is the endocrine system?
The system of glands located throughout the body that help control important activities such as growth and sexual activity. The glands release hormones into the bloodstream and on to the various body organs
What two systems does the hypothalamus activate during the flight or fight response?
The autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system
What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
The sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system, work together to control our arousal reactions
What occurs when the sympathetic nervous system is activated?
The nerve fibres of the autonomic nervous system that quicken the heartbeat and produce other changes experienced as arousal
What occurs when the parasympathetic nervous system is activated?
Leads to an overall calming effect, the nerve fibres of the autonomic nervous system that help return bodily processes to normal
What are the two brain-body pathways by which the ANS and endocrine system produce arousal?
The sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal pathway (fight or flight response)
When is the sympathetic nervous system activated?
The hypothalamus exists the sympathetic nervous system when we perceive a danger
What does the sympathetic nervous system do directly?
These nerves may stimulate the organs of the body directly, ex: heart rate
What does the sympathetic nervous system do indirectly?
The nerves may influence the organs indirectly, by stimulating the adrenal glands
What happened when the adrenal glands are stimulated
Specifically, when the adrenal medulla is stimulated, the chemicals epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) are released
How does epinephrine and norepinephrine work in the sympathetic nervous system?
They are NOT neurotransmitters in this case, rather they act as hormones and travel through the bloodstream to various organs and muscles, producing further arousal
When is the parasympathetic nervous system activated?
When the perceived danger passes, these nerve fibres help return our heart beat and other body processes to normal
What is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal pathway?
Endocrine system
Stressors cause the hypothalamus to signal the pituitary gland. The pituitary secretes the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH stimulates the outer layer of the adrenal glands (adrenal cortex), triggering the release of a group of stress hormones called corticosteroids, including the hormone (cortisol). The corticosteroids travel to various body organs, producing further arousal reactions.
What is ACTH?
Adrenocorticotropic hormone known as the body’s “major stress hormone”.
The systems in relations to individuals
Each person has a particular pattern of autonomic and endocrine functioning and so a particular way of experiencing arousal when they confront stressors.
What is post traumatic stress disorder?
A disorder in which a person experiences fear and related symptoms long after a traumatic event
What is a traumatic event?
An event in which a person is exposed to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violation
How does PTSD differ from anxiety disorders?
Unlike anxiety disorders that are typically triggered by situations that most people would not find threatening, the situations that cause PTSD would be traumatic for almost anyone
How does DSM-5 classify acute stress disorder?
If the symptoms begin within 4 weeks of the traumatic event and last for less than a month
How does DSM-5 classify post traumatic stress disorder?
If the symptoms continue longer than a month, the symptoms may begin either shortly after the traumatic event or months of years afterwards
How does PTSD differ from acute stress disorder?
The onset and the duration is what differs these two diagnosis, otherwise the symptoms are almost identical
What is emotional dysregulation / labile mood?
a pattern where emotions of anxiety, anger, or depression fluctuate markedly
What are symptoms of PTSD?
Emotional dysregulation. Hyper-alertness, Easily startled, Have trouble concentrating and Develop sleep problems, Guilt, Recurring thoughts, memories, dreams connected to the event (re-experiencing the event), Avoidance of activities that remind them of the event also avoid related thoughts, feelings, conversation. Reduced responsiveness and dissociation (detached from other people, unresponsive to external stimuli, lose interest in things that once brought enjoyment. Depersonalization, Derealization
What is depersonalization?
Feeling that their conscious state or body is unreal
What is derealization?
Feeling that the environment is unreal or strange
What is dissociation/psychological separation?
Feel dazed, have trouble remembering things
What are people who experience symptoms of dissociation and unresponsiveness as part of their stress syndrome labeled by the DSM-5?
DSM-5 singles out PTSD with dissociative symptoms as a special subtype of the disorder. This pattern is common among PTSD victims whose traumas involve military combat, sexual abuse, or other forms of physical abuse
What most commonly triggers acute stress disorder and PTSD?
Combat (shell shock, combat fatigue), natural and accidental disasters including serious car accidents, and abuse and victimization (sexual assault, rape)
What is Rape Trauma Syndrome (RTS)?
A pattern of problematic physical and psychological symptoms. RTS is a form of PSTD. One-third of rape victims develop PTSD.
Other triggers for acute stress disorder and PSTD?
terrorism (or threat of terrorism) and Torture (physical, psychological, sexual, through deprivation)
What are the biological factors that contribute to PTSD?
The brain-body stress pathways, the brain’s stress circuit and inherited predispositions
