Trauma, Stress-Related, and Dissociated Disorders Flashcards
what is a trauma?
events in life- extraordinary intensity or severity beyond stress of everyday life- person perceives as harmful or life threatening- causes severe emotional shock and may have long lasting psychological effects
what is a trauma brain?
traumatized brain perceives presence of danger almost everywhere
what is the thinking brain?
prefrontal cortex- personality, decisions, memory, information processing- translator of emotion- should control amygdala
what is the survival brain?
amygdala- midbrain, brain stem, and limbic system- our autopilot- breathe, heartbeat, digest food, and fight-flight-freeze-faster
what happens to the amygdala when trauma occurs?
it hyperactives it
what is the mediator of the brain?
thalamus- receives all sensory information (sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch)- relays to both thinking and survival brain
what are example of trauma disorders?
posttraumatic stress disorder
attachment disorders
acute stress disorder
adjustment disorder
what are examples of attachment disorders?
reactive attachment disorder
disinhibited social engagement disorder
what is PTSD?
exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence- person responded with intense fear, helplessness, or horror
what can be brought on by indirect exposure?
loved ones or friends experience the trauma
EMS/police/ED nurses
what is a flashback?
feels or acts as if event recurring- physical sensations of terror
what happens when a person with PTSD persistently avoids stimuli associated with trauma?
avoid distressing memories, thoughts, feelings
avoid external reminders- peoples, places, conversations, activities, objects, situtations
what are the cognition issues with people with PTSD?
inability to recall aspects of trauma
negative beliefs of self, others, and world
blame self or others
fear, horror, anger, guilt, shame
decreased interest in usual activities
feelings of detachments, estrangement from others
restriction in feelings- can’t feel happiness, satisfcation, love
what are the arousal and reactivity issues with people with PTSD?
hypervigilance and exaggerated startle response
persistent high levels of anxiety or arousal
irritable/angry outbursts
trouble concentrating
sleep issues
guilt common
what are other signs and symptoms of PTSD?
may have dissociate symptoms
generalized numbing- feeling detached from others, empty inside
significant distress or impairment in functioning, trust a common issue; sense of foreshortened future
often present for care of somatic symptoms
what are the comorbidities of PTSD?
depression
substance abuse
anger
aggressive behavior
relationship problems
what is dependent on the severity of the PTSD?
the duration of the trauma, the knowledge/readiness to experience the trauma, and the place the trauma happened
what is the experience of PTSD?
severity and duration
extent of preparation
exposure to death; number affected
control over recurrence
location (familiar environment, home, foreign country?
what is the isolation defense mechanisms?
splitting off of emotional components of a thought
may be temporary or long-term
what is the repression defense mechanisms?
involuntary exclusion of a painful or conflictual thought, impulse, or memory from awareness
what is the assessment for PTSD in children?
reduced play
repetitive play- includes aspects of events
social withdrawal
negative emotions- fear, guilt, anger, horror, sadness, shame, confusion
negative thoughts to self- “bad person”
detachment/estrangement from others
irritable, aggressive, self-destructive behavior
sleep disturbance, problems concentrating, hypervigilance
what are the nursing diagnosis for the PTSD in children?
risk for development delay
risk for impaired attachment
what is reactive attachment disorder?
inhibited- emotionally withdrawn behavior
does not seek comfort when distressed abnormally
what is the cause of the attachment disorder?
lack of bonding with primary caregiver by age 8 months
what is the disinhibited social engagement disorder?
remarkably friendly and confident
no normal fear of strangers
no normal boundaries with those not known
unfazed by separation with adult caregivers- attaching to everyone yet not really attaching to anyone
what are the genetic risk factors of PTSD?
prenatal exposure to maternal stress
altered DNA in brain- methylation-control production of stress hormone-prevents brain from governing response to stress
protective= parental nurturing
absence of nurturing= increased high risk behaviors as teens
what are the neurobiological risk factors of PTSD in childhood?
< age 5
trauma disrupts integration of neuronal networks in limbic system
brain will dissociate- disconnection of thoughts, emotions, sensations, and behaviors- connected with the memory
what are the psychological factors in childhood PTSD?
attachment theory- early relationship infant- caretaker
schemas- formed early