Stress and Trauma Related Disorders

Question 1

What does stress look like?

Answer 1

1. Stress as a stimulus, response, and appraisal of the stimulus

Question 2

What are the characteristics of a stressor?

Answer 2

• Crises
• Life changes
• Perception of benefits

Question 3

What are the 3 most stressful events that can happen in a person’s life?

Answer 3

• Death of a spouse
• Divorce
• Marital separation

Question 4

What are possible reactions to stressors and stress?

Answer 4

• Resilience
• The stress response
• Compromised immune system

Question 5

How much does stress slow down the healing of wounds?

Answer 5

25-40%

Question 6

What is the HPA axis?

Answer 6

• It is our central stress response system
• Represents the interaction between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands
• When prolonged stress leads to the secretion of the hormone cortisol which elevates blood sugar and increases metabolism. These changes help the body sustain prolonged activity but at the cost of decreased immune system activity

Question 7

What is adjustment disorder?

Answer 7

A psychological response to an identified stressor
- starts within 3 months of the onset of the stressor and lasting no longer than 6 months after the stressor or its consequences have ceased

Question 8

How long does adjustment disorder last after the stressful life event?

Answer 8

180 days

Question 9

How long does acute stress disorder last after the SLE?

Answer 9

3-30 days

Question 10

How long does PTSD last after the SLE?

Answer 10

30-365+

Question 11

What is acute stress disorder?

Answer 11

A psychological and physiological response that many but not all, individuals experience when faced with overwhelming threat

Question 12

How often does acute stress disorder worsen into PTSD?

Answer 12

About 50% of the time

Question 13

What percentage of people have PTSD in the U.S. at some point in their lives?

Answer 13

7-8% of people

Question 14

What are 5 types of symptoms of those with PTSD and an example of each?

Answer 14

• Re-living or re-experiencing the event (nightmares, intrusive thoughts, or images)
• Avoidance of stimuli (refuse to walk on the street where the rape occurred)
• Hyper arousal or being on guard (irritability or being on guard)
• Negative changes in beliefs or feelings (self-blame and memory loss)

Question 15

What are two characteristics of the symptoms of those who have PTSD?

Answer 15

• Symptoms tend to be chronic

- Higher risk of suicide, self injury, and illness

Question 16

What other disorder is comorbid with PTSD?

Answer 16

social anhedonia

Question 17

Is there a separate DSM 5 criteria for children?

Answer 17

Yes

Question 18

What percent of the population suffer from PTSD?

Answer 18

2%

Question 19

What are the factors affecting the likelihood of PTSD?

Answer 19

• Features of trauma: intensity, duration, extent
• Features of the person: family history of psychopathology, cognitive coping styles, feelings of guilt
• Features of the post trauma environment: availability and quality of social support

Question 20

Are men or women at higher risk for PTSD for sexual assault?

Answer 20

Women

Question 21

If a person has PTSD they are at higher risk of …

Answer 21

• Mood disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Substance use disorders
• Academic failures
• Teenage pregnancy
• Relationship problems

Question 22

What are the 5 treatment options for PTSD?

Answer 22

• Critical incident stress debriefing
• Individual or group counseling
• Antidepressants
• Psychotherapy
• Eye movement desensitization processing

Question 23

What are ways that the PTSD patient can be exposed to the trauma in treatment? Is this more effective than medication or therapy?

Answer 23

Exposure treatment: In vivo or imaginative (VR)

- Yes it is more effective