Chapter 6-Disorders of Trauma/Stress Flashcards
Cannon’s Fight/Flight Response
stimulation of sympathetic nervous system
–>release Norepinephrine–>fight or flight
(Fast response)
Selve’s general adaptation syndrome
stress process of prolonged stressors
- Alarm phase: initial reaction to a stressor & initial mobilization of resources
- Resistance phase: resources are mobilized, levels of arousal/functioning are at highest level
- Exhaustion phase: Depletion of physiological resources & Decline in functioning
Transactional Model (Lazarus)
when demands from environment exceed social resources
Resources: social support, good active coping, finances, time, etc.
Greater the demands, more resources required
–>more resources one has the more demands they can handle
Acute Stress & illness
short term stressors-less of an effect on one’s health
Prolonged stress & illness
prolonged stressors-stronger effect on health & immune system
prolonged stress can be objective OR perceived
SAM system
Sympathetic AdrenoMedullary system
–>release of catecholamines (adrenaline)
Fast response
HPA system
Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenocortical system
–>corticosteroids (cortisol)–>illness
Chronically elevated cortisol levels
- compromise immune system
- destruction of hippocampal neurons
- increase in centripetal fat
- ->”premature aging”
Acute PTSD
symptoms develop within 6 months of trauma
Prognosis: fairly good with treatment
Delayed PTSD
symptoms develop after 6 months from trauma
prognisis: poorer
Symptoms of PTSD
- hyperarousal & vigilance
- flashbacks of event
- difficulty concentrating
- sleep problems
- psychic numbing-dissociative states
- irritability
- intimacy problems
- substance abuse (dual diagnosis)
- avoidance of anything related to trauma
- increased arousal-exaggerated startal response
3 clustered symptoms of PTSD
- Re-experiencing: recurring thoughts, memories, dreams, nightmares connected to events, severe flashbacks
- Avoidance: avoid activities that remind them of traumatic event
- Arousal: increased negative emotions and guilt
Health effects of PTSD
- CHD
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Musculaskeletal disorders
- obesity
Combat PTSD
12-20% returning soldiers diagnosed
30% wounded diagnosed
many do not seek help, & delay leads to poorer outcomes
Variables to predict violence and PTSD (Hellmuth et al.)
numbing & hyperarousal–>TRAIT ANGER–>aggression
EMDR
eye movement desensitization rehabilitation
works via: exposure
*not proven to work
Virtual reality Therapy
virtual exposure
–>operates via classical conditioning
Treatment of PTSD
- EMDR
- CBT/Meds
- Virtual Reality Therapy
- Telehealth
Acute Stress disorder
“a normal reaction to abnormal circumstances”
symptoms: same as PTSD EXCEPTS symptoms must begin within the first 4 weeks
* symptoms must last at least 1 day, but no more than 30 days
Adjustment Disorder
most common stress related disorder amongst college students
Source: difficulty adjusting to one or more stressors–>reaction to stressor out of proportion to the actual stressor
prognosis: typically Good
symptoms of adjustment disorder
Depression OR Anxiety OR Both
- Adjustment disorder with _______
- anxiety
- depressed mood
- disturbance of conduct
- mixed anxiety & depressed mood
- mixed disturbance of emotions & conduct
Social withdrawal Decrease in performance conduct disturbances sleep problems physical complaints
Controversy of adjustment disorder
up to 30% receiving treatment receive this diagnosis
- overdiagnosed
- misdiagnosed
- extremes in difficulties with coping
Vulnerability to stress disorders
- Biological/genetic factors
- Personality
- childhood experience
- social support
- severity
biological/genetic factors for stress disorders
-cardiovascular reactivity: very strong cardiovascular response to stress & takes longer to return to baseline
