PTSD

Question 1

What are the Brain Parts that are involved in fear?

Answer 1

Amygala - threat processing

Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex - fear regulation and controls amygdala

Hippocampus - provides context of fear

Question 2

What are the neurocircuitry changes that you see in PTSD?

Answer 2

Increased Amygdala activity and decreased VMPFC activity

Question 3

What are biological markers of PTSD?

Answer 3

increased autonomic activity - HR and skin conductance

Increased Facial muscle repsonse

Increased startle

+/- Cortisol elevation

Question 4

Criteria (DSM5) for PTSD?

Answer 4

A) direct exposure/experience/witness to threat/trauma

B) one or more intrusion symptoms: recurrent memories, recurrent dreams, flashbacks, prolonged physiological distress, marked physical reactions

C) Persistence of avoidance behaviors - avoiding memories, reminders, situations

D) Alterations in cognition and mood about the event - can’t remember parts, feeling something’s wrong, distorted cognitions, persistent negative emotional state, less interest in activities, feeling detached/estranged from others, inability to experience positive emotions

E) Alterations in arousal and activity - hypervigilance, angry outbursts, reckless behavior, STARTLE RESPONSE, sleep or concentration problems

Question 5

What are the Dissociative Symptoms of PTSD?

Answer 5

Depersonalization - unreal feeling of self or body

Derealization - world around them unreal

Question 6

Non-Pharmacological treatments for PTDS?

Answer 6

2 Types of Psychotherapy:

CBT - go back to make sense of event

Prolonged Exposure - talk about experience for HOURS to process event

Question 7

Medications used to treat PTSD?

Answer 7

SSRIs/SNRIs!!!!

Antidepressants if have additional affective disorder

Benzodiazepines - try to avoid bc get easily hooked

Prazosin - Alpha 1 Adrenergic for nightmares