Trauma Responses Flashcards
What physical reactions can be seen in trauma?
muscle tension headaches nausea shakes and tremors choking sensation palpitations dizziness
Which traumatic event has the highest incidence of PTSD?
Rape
What other traumatic experiences can result in PTSD?
combat exposure
childhood neglect and abuse
sexual abuse
physical attack - kidnapping, hostage
What happens if a fight or flight response is not possible?
the brain judges neither is possible and death or severe injury is inevitable and evokes a FREEZE RESPONSE
What happens to the body in a freeze response?
the body goes into shut down
altered state of reality
body becomes immobile
pain sensations are reduced
What is the purpose of a freeze response?
to increase survival chances and reduce tissue damage and injury.
What attributes to traumatic stress?
overwhelming trauma
threat to body integrity/safety
witnessing death/injury to a loved one
when intense fear, horror, helplessness is experienced
What is type 1 trauma?
simple trauma
What is type 2 trauma?
complex trauma
What is complex PTSD?
PTSD Symptoms and Cognitive disturbances-low self-esteem, self-blame, hopelessness, helplessness, pre-occupation with threat
Abusive trauma can form what 3 categories?
physical
sexual
emotional
What constitutes unintentional human related trauma?
industria accidents with equipment fires, burns (oil rigs) RTA, railway, plane crashes building collapse nuclear disasters surgical/medical damage
What acts of nature can cause trauma?
floods tsunami earthquakes avalanche volcano forest fires drought hurricane animal attacks
What makes up the limbic brain?
hippocampus
amygdala
medial prefrontal cortex
What is the function of the hippocampus?
locating memories in the right time, place and context
What is the function of the amygdala?
stores emotionally charged memories and connects to the medial prefrontal cortex
What is the function of the medial prefrontal cortex?
regulates emotional and fear responses
What is the most emotionally laden part of the brain?
Amygdala
What can trigger PTSD?
Visual Auditory Smell Taste Kinaesthetic
What is a flashback?
like being back in the moment with associated sights, sounds, smell, feelings and emotions
these are UNWELCOME, PAINFUL and unpleasant
What is avoidance?
avoiding aspects of the trauma and triggers e.g. people connected to the trauma, places, refusing to talk about it with fear of losing control
People with PTSD have decreased arousal - T/F?
False - increased (hyper vigilance)
What is emotional numbing?
feeling detached from the world - unable to have loving feelings, feeling alone
loss of interest and inability to look forward to the future
What is dissociation?
the minds way of walling off a painful experience
offers temporary relief
Dissociation is more common in mild trauma - T/F?
false - more common in severe prolonged or repeated trauma especially with the victim at a young age
What does dissociation predict the development of?
PTSD
What is re-enactment?
recreating the trauma
putting themselves in dangerous situations similar to the event
What losses are associated with trauma?
loss of family members/friends/colleagues
loss of jobs
physical disfigurement
loss of usual supports/relationships
What populations are particularly at risk of PTSD?
police military emergency workers refugees aid workers
what psychotherapeutic models are available for PTSD sufferers?
Trauma focused CBT
EMDR - eye movement desensitisation and reprogramming
What pharmacological treatment is available?
Paroxetine
At what point should PTSD specific treatment begin?
when the survivor is safely removed from the crisis
