Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders (Ch 19)

Question 1

How many individuals will experience a traumatic event in their lifetime? What percent of these people will develop PTSD?

Answer 1

Over half of all individuals will experience a traumatic event in their lifetime, but less than 10 percent will develop PTSD.

Question 2

Traumatic event definition

Answer 2

Outside the range of usual human experience

Question 3

Adjustment disorder

Answer 3

Individuals who have difficulties with stress reactions to more “normal” events may be diagnosed with adjustment disorder.
Common, any age.

Question 4

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Answer 4

A reaction to an extreme trauma, which is likely to cause pervasive distress to almost anyone, such as natural or man-made disasters, combat, serious accidents, witnessing the violent death of others, being the victim of torture, terrorism, rape, or other crimes.

Question 5

PTSD Symptoms

Answer 5

Re-experiencing the traumatic event (flashbacks)
A sustained high level of anxiety or arousal
A general numbing of responsiveness
Intrusive recollections or nightmares
Amnesia to certain aspects of the trauma
Depression; survivor’s guilt
Substance abuse
Anger and aggression
Relationship problems

Question 6

PTSD Symptom Onset

Answer 6

Symptoms must be present for more than 1 month and cause significant interference with functioning. symptoms may begin within the first 3 months after the trauma, or there may be a delay of several months or even years.

Question 7

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)

Answer 7

Similar to PTSD in terms of precipitating traumatic events and symptomatology
Symptoms are time limited: up to 1 month following the trauma.
If the symptoms last longer than 1 month, the diagnosis is PTSD.