Module 6 Flashcards
What does the diagnosis of PTSD begin with?
determining whether an individual has been exposed to a traumatic event
How is PTSD defined/what are the symptoms? How is it considered in terms of recovery?
PTSD is characterized by clinically significant distress or impairment in daily functioning brought about by persistent and distressing nightmares, flashbacks, and intrusive images of the event; avoidance of situations, emotions, or thoughts associated with the traumatic event; changes in one’s beliefs about the world and the self; and intense bodily and emotional reactivity.
PTSD is largely considered a disorder of non-recovery
Can PTSD be diagnosed soon after traumatic event?
PTSD can only be diagnosed after a sufficient time has passed
- research has shown that in most cases, following a traumatic event, distressing symptoms that may have been present will tend to diminish on their own with time
Briefly state a few Biological Risk Factors of PTSD.
The Role of Cortisol
Effects of PTSD on Brain Regions
Glucocorticoid Involvement in PTSD
Explain the Role of Cortisol in PTSD. What is Cortisol/ how is it regulated?
Cortisol levels are higher in patients with PST compared to control patients.
response to environmental challenges results in an alteration of emotional state, enhancing fear, in addition to behavioural and neuroendocrine reactions (cortisol)
Cortisol secreted by the adrenal glands suppresses a further stress response and, via a negative feedback loop, suppresses the further secretion of the hormone itself. Which is regulated by the HPA axis.
What brain regions are affected by PTSD? How does it affect those with PTSD?
the amygdala, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex
Individuals with PTSD had greater cognitive impairment than did those exposed to trauma who did not develop PTSD
How is the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) connected to the presence of PTSD symptoms?
(mPFC) may be involved in the failure to extinguish fear responses—remember, patients with PTSD tend to relive their traumatic experiences through nightmares and flashback
What are glucocorticoids?
Excessive secretion of glucocorticoids (cortisol in humans) results in changes in the brain, which in turn has deleterious effects on mental and physical health.
Is it possible that patients with PTSD were more susceptible to abnormal cortisol levels because of previous abnormalities to the traumatic event?
Yes, it is possible that a PTSD patient may have previously had depression, which would be the reason for abnormal cortisol levels
What would the ideal research to conduct to study the prevalence of PTSD?
Prospective longitudinal research
For example, some researchers have been able to study soldiers before deployment and sometime after deployment
How can Cognition affect the development of PTSD?
Lower intelligence quotient (IQ) and a pre-existing tendency to make negative appraisals about the self are correlated with PTSD risk (rumination)
How can Personality Characteristics be a risk factor for PTSD?
people who are high in neuroticism, hostility, anger the general propensity to be anxious in many situations, are at greater risk for PTSD following trauma exposure
Can Pre-existing Psychopathology(mental illnesses) be a risk factor for pTSD?
Pre-existing psychopathology does predict PTSD risk
However, caution is that the pre-existing psychopathology may result from exposure to pre-existing trauma. So it is not entirely clear that a history of psychopathology is a vulnerability factor.
How can Social support affect the development of PTSD? And what do people with PTSD typically do?
Social Support lessens the symptoms and severity of PTSD
Those with PTSD often show changes in their social functioning. Some individuals alienate themselves so as not to have conversations about a traumatic event.
What is Acute Stress Disorder?
similar to PTSD but occures within one month of exposure to stressors and does not last more than 4 weeks, involves dissociative symptoms
