PTSD

Question 1

Criterion A

Answer 1

Personal experience of trauma (involving death)- exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violence
Actually involves a cause- a traumatic event

Question 2

Criterion B

Answer 2

Intrusions- memories, dreams, flashbacks

Question 3

Criterion C

Answer 3

Avoidance of stimuli

Question 4

Criterion D

Answer 4

Negative changes in cognition, mood (2 or more)

Fear, negative beliefs about self, others, the world

Question 5

Criterion E

Answer 5

Changes in arousal reactivity (2 or more)
Anger, recklessness, self-destructive acts, sleep disturbance
Duration of symptoms is 1 month or more

Question 6

Reason for duration before diagnosis

Answer 6

50-60% of people experience traumatic events
About 25% develop post-traumatic problems including depression, anxiety, substance abuse
PTSD prevalence: 5-11%
Feeling bad after traumatic event is a normal reaction
Normally distress- drops substantially within 3 months in 75% of people

Question 7

Pre-trauma risk factors

Answer 7

childhood trauma
prior psychiatric history
family instability
substance abuse
social/economic disadvantage

Question 8

Trauma risk factors

Answer 8

degree of life threat (injury, death)
severity of exposure
location of trauma- the meaning of the event (at home would have more meaning in safe place vs in dangerous place)- meaning- how safe you are in the world and controllability
Individual’s role in trauma

Question 9

Post-trauma risk factors

Answer 9

social support
coping style
ongoing stressors

Question 10

Treatment

Answer 10

Normal Biological- benzos and antidepressants
CBT- assess suitability
-psychoeducation- why CBT and outcomes, what PTSD is etc
-anxiety management techniques
-cognitive restructuring
-prolonged exposure- to memories- more avoid it, more it keeps coming back
CBT more effective than medication or supportive psychotherapy