PTSD

Question 1

PTSD

Answer 1

• Caused by exposure to major stressor (symptoms last more than a month)
• Cause of disorder is a defining factor (diagnosis is based on experienced trauma)
• Symptoms include Intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, avoidance behaviour, negative changes in cognition and mood and increased arousal and reactivity

Question 2

Traumatic events that precipitated PTSD

Answer 2

-Rape (90%), torture (70-90%), war (50%), earthquake & flood (20-25%), Motor vehicle accidents (15%)

Question 3

Acute stress disorder

Answer 3

-Very similar to PTSD e.g. nightmares, anxiety, disturbed sleep and flashbacks (only 3days-1 month following event). Can predict PTSD

Question 4

Aetiology

Answer 4

• Biological factors
• Vulnerability factors
• Conditioning theory
• Foa’s emotional processing theory

Question 5

Treatment

Answer 5

• psychological debriefing
• Exposure therapies
• Cognitive restructuring

Question 6

Biological factors

Answer 6

• 30% heritability component
• Biological vulnerability linked to underdeveloped hippocampus and failure of amygdala to dampen fear following a traumatic event
• Genetically heightened startle responses and fear-relevant endocrine secretion

Question 7

Vulnerability factors

Answer 7

• Tendency to take personal responsibility for the trauma
• Developmental factors such as unstable family life
• A family history of PTSD
• Existing high levels of anxiety or a pre-existing psychopathology

Question 8

Conditioning theory

Answer 8

• Classical conditioning causes the traumatic event to be paired with neutral stimuli at the time and place of trauma (creates triggers for trauma related stress)
• Generalization: similar cues elicit the same fear experience during the trauma
• Operant conditioning maintains PTSD symptoms by avoiding trauma triggers

Question 9

Foa’s emotional processing theory

Answer 9

• Trauma becomes associated with cues which will override positive associations, which leads to avoidance behaviours (maintains the association)
• Stimuli - fear response - changes meaning of stimuli (avoidance)

Question 10

Psychological debriefing

Answer 10

• Critical Incident Stress management: Structured intervention immediately after trauma to prevent PTSD post event counselling (explain purpose, discuss event and feelings and encourage ppts to see their feelings ad normal reactions’
• Many victims do not show any symptoms of psychological disorders or trauma, in some cases this can also impede natural recovery

Question 11

Exposure therapies

Answer 11

• Enables sufferers to confront and experience events/stimuli relevant to their trauma
• Imaginal flooding: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (Clients asked to hold memory of traumatic event in mind while following therapists finger moving backwards and forwards in front of their eyes)

Question 12

Cognitive restructuring

Answer 12

• Two dysfunctional beliefs develop following trauma: ‘The world is a dangerous place’ and ‘I am totally incompetent’
• For most these are disconfirmed through experiences with the world, but for those who engage in avoidance behaviours and thoughts will avoid disconfirming these extreme views leading to developing chronic PTSD
• Cognitive restructuring helps clients to: Evaluate and replace intrusive or negative thoughts/dysfunctional beliefs about the world, themselves and their future