PTSD - Psychiatry

Question 1

diagnosis of PTSD

Answer 1

A. Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one (or more) of the following ways:
1. Directly experiencing the traumatic event.
2. Witnessing, in person, the event as it occurred to others.
3. Learning that the traumatic event occurred to a close family member or close friend.
4. Experiencing extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event (e.g., first responders collecting human remains: police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse).
B. Presence of one (or more) of the following intrusion symptoms:
- Recurrent distressing memories,
- Recurrent distressing dreams,
- Flashbacks (the individual feels or acts as if the traumatic event were
recurring),
- Intense psychological distress and physiological reactions
C. Avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event:
Like external reminders (people, places, activities, objects, situations) that arouse distressing memories,
thoughts.
D. Negative alterations in cognitions and mood:
- Inability to remember an important aspect of the traumatic event,
- Negative beliefs or expectations about oneself , others & world
- Negative emotional state (e.g., fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame).
- Markedly diminished interest in significant activities.
- Feelings of detachment from others.
- Inability to experience positive emotions (e.g., happiness, satisfaction, or loving).
E. Marked alterations in arousal and reactivity: as evidenced by two (or more) of the followings:
- Angry outbursts.
- reckless or self-destructive behavior.
- Hypervigilance.
- Exaggerated startle response. - Problems with concentration. - Sleep disturbance.
F. Duration of the disturbance (Criteria B, C, D, and E) is more than 1 month.
G. Significant impairment in important areas of functioning.