Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) vs. Acute Stress Disorder vs. Adjustment Disorder With Anxiety

Question 1

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) vs. Acute Stress Disorder

Answer 1

Have the same symptoms, but it comes down to the timeline. For ASD symptoms need to occur within 1 month. PTSD - Not diagnosed until at least one month. For both there will be an incident that is life threatening or have witnessed an event such as this. Doesn’t matter if they were or weren’t the victim. Symptoms: 4 categories of sxs; 1. Intrusive Symptoms - Recurrent distressful memories, dreams, intrusive thoughts and memories of the event when they are trying not to think about it. dissociative reactions 2. Persistent avoidance stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning after
the traumatic event(s) occurred. 3. Negative alterations in cognitions and mood associated with the traumatic event(s). Negative mood - irritability, depression, shame, self-blame. 4. Marked alterations in arousal and reactivity associated with the traumatic event(s).

Behavioral - people avoid situations that remind them of the incident. Arousal - Hypervigilance, jumpy, have a lot of tension. sleep disturbances

Question 2

Adjustment Disorder With Anxiety

Answer 2

The sxs of anxiety occur as a result of an event, but the event was not life threatening.