Trauma/Stress related Disorders

Question 1

What are some defining characteristics of PTSD?

Answer 1

• Person exposed to a traumatic event in which they experienced/witnessed actual or threatened death/injury/integrity of self or others
• Duration of disturbance and symptoms is more than 1 month
• Clinically significant distress and impairs function

Question 2

What are some symptoms of PTSD?

Answer 2

• Persistently re-experience traumatic event
• Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with trauma
• Persistent symptoms of increased arousal such as difficulty sleeping, irritability, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance

Question 3

How is PTSD treated?

Answer 3

-SSRIs such as Sertraline/Prozac/Lexapro (drugs of choice for PTSD)

Can also use:

-Cognitive processing therapy (such as support groups)

Question 4

What is one key difference between PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder?

Answer 4

Duration is different

-acute stress disorder occurs 3 days to 1 month after exposure

Question 5

Define Adjustment Disorder

Answer 5

Development of emotional/behavioral symptoms in response to identifiable stressor

-occurs within 3 months of stressor