Trauma- and Stressor-related Disorders Flashcards
What is special about Trauma/Stress-related Disorders in comparison to other categories?
It is defined by its cause.
What characterizes Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Extreme response to severe stressor, including:
- Recurrent memories of trauma
- Avoidance of stimuli associated with trauma
- Negative emotions and thoughts
- Increased arousal
What are traumas that cause Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Events that involve actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violation.
What percentage of people report serious traumas throughout life?
55%
What are common traumas for men causing PTSD? and for women?
Men: war
Women: rape
When do symptoms of PSTD develop?
They may develop soon after the trauma or years afterwards.
What are common 3 conditions that accompany PTSD (not included in diagnosis)?
- Unemployment
- Suicidal tendencies
- Medical illness
According to ICD-11, what is Complex PTSD?
Prolonged exposure to trauma which may lead to a broader range of symptoms.
What are the 5 DSM-5 criteria for diagonising PTSD?
- Exposure to serious trauma.
(+ symptoms in the 4 following categories:) - Intrusion
- Avoidance
- Negative alterations in cognitions and mood
- Arousal and reactivity
Explain the 4 categories of PTSD symptoms: intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, arousal and reactivity.
- Intrusion = e.g., recurrent and intrusive memories, dreams, flashbacks
- Avoidance = of internal and external reminders
- Negative alterations in cognitions and mood = e.g., persistent negative beliefs and negative emotional states
- Arousal and reactivity = e.g., aggressiveness, hypervigilance (increased sensory sensitivity), exaggerated startle response
What is PTSD comorbid with?
Anxiety disorders, depression, substance use, conduct disorder, personality disorders
What is the gender difference in PTSD rate? What is a possible explanation?
1.5 to 2 times more common in women.
It is consistent with gender ratio in other anxiety disorders, and may be related to different life circumstances of women.
How may culture affect risk to PTSD?
It may influence the exposure to trauma, and the symptoms observed.
What disorder has similar symptoms to PTSD?
ASD = Acute Stress Disorder
What is the difference between ASD and PTSD?
The symptoms duration is shorter in ASD - 3 days to 1 month.
Is ASD predicative of PTSD development?
No. Less than half of the people with ASD develop PTSD within 2 years.
What may be problematic with ASD diagnosis?
It may stigmatize reaction to serious trauma. For instance, 90% of women report symptoms of post-trauma one month after a rape.
What are the 6 etiological factors shared to PTSD and Anxiety Disorders?
- Genetic risk
- Greater amygdala activation
- Diminished activation of regions of medial prefrontal cortex
- Childhood exposure to trauma
- Greater reactivity to signals of threat
- Mowrer’s two-factor model of conditioning
What are 2 etiological factors unique to PTSD?
- Small hippocampus volume (central role in autobiographical memories)
- Tendency to dissociate. 15% of people with PTSDcope with dissociation.
What are 2 protective factors for developing PTSD?
- Cognitive abilities (high intelligence)
- Social support
Both help in coping adaptively with trauma.
**What is Mowrer’s two-factor model of conditioning?
In 1947, O. Hobart Mowrer proposed his two-factor theory of avoidance learning to explain the development and maintenance of phobias. Mowrer’s two-factor theory combined the learning principles of classical and operant conditioning.
**For more: https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/operant-conditioning-and-avoidance-learning/
What are 3 types of treatment for PTSD?
- Medications (SSRIs and SNRIs)
- Exposure treatment
- Cognitive therapy
What treatment to PTSD has not been proved valid?
EMDR
What treatment to PTSD has not been proven valid?
EMDR
What are 3 levels of exposure treatment?
- Imaginal
- Virtual reality
- Direct (in vivo)
What is the goal of exposure treatment for PTSD?
To extinguish fear response and challenge belief that the person cannot cope.
What is the goal of cognitive therapy for PTSD?
To reduce overly negative interpretations about trauma and its meaning.
What treatment for ASD may prevent PTSD?
Exposure treatment and cognitive therapy.
Exposure treatment has been proven more effective.