Unit 6: PTSD (book)

Question 1

PTSD

Answer 1

-A psychological disorder under the category of trauma and stressor-related disorders.
-First begins with the onset of a traumatic experience
May be:
-Directly experienced by the person
-Directly witnessed by the person
-This person may learn that a family member or someone really close went through a trauma
-This person may be indirectly exposed to this trauma (usually through the course of their professional duties such as a medic or firefighter)

Question 2

After identification of the traumatic event, there are different criteria that an individual must meet in order to obtain a diagnosis of PTSD including:

Answer 2

• Must. have at least 1 intrusive symptom where they persistently re-experiences the traumatic event in 1 or more ways: unwanted, unsettling memories; nightmares; flashbacks; emotional distress after exposure to traumatic reminders; and physical reactivity after exposure to traumatic reminders.
• Avoidance: Must experience at least 1 of the following avoidance criterion: avoids trauma-related thoughts or feelings and/or this person avoids trauma- related external reminders.
• At least, two symptoms of negative alterations in cognition and mood such as: negative thoughts or feelings that began or worsened after the trauma and include the inability to recall key features of the trauma, overly negative thoughts and assumptions about oneself or the world, exaggerated blame of self or others for causing the trauma, negative affect, decreased interest in activities, feeling isolated, and difficulty experiencing positive affect.
• Must experience at least 2 symptoms of the criterion of alteration in arousal and reactivity (when a person experiences trauma-related arousal and reactivity that began or worsened after the trauma and are described in the following ways: irritability or aggression, risky or destructive behaviors, hypervigilance, heightened startle reaction, difficulty concentrating, and difficulty sleeping)
• Symptoms must last for more than 1 month; create distress or functional impairment (social, occupational, ect) and are not due to medications, substance use, or other illness.

Question 3

PTSD Diagnosis for children under 6

Answer 3

Very similar, but focus on symptoms and criteria that would be more specific to a small child, like how they play and how the expressions of emotions are impacted.

Question 4

differentiating PTSD and complex PTSD (CPTSD)

Answer 4

PTSD: A result of a singular traumatic event
CPTSD: A result of chronic and long-term exposure to trauma.
-The key symptomatic difference is that CPTSD is generally associated with a distortion in the person’s self-identity and is marked with a general emotional dysregulation.
(CPTSD is not in DSM-5 as being a distinct and separate diagnostic category, but has been considered to be added in both the Fourth and now Fifth Editions of the DSM-5)

Question 5

PTSD Statistics

Answer 5

The National Center for PTSD notes that over half of the population in the United States have experienced a traumatic event.

• This does not mean that every one of these people will develop PTSD, though they found that 7 to 8% of the population or 23 to 25 million people will experience PTSD at some point in their lives.
• This tends to manifest more in women than in men, as with women having 10% of reported PTSD compared to 4% of men.
• Persons with PTSD had 4.3 times the rate of death from suicide than persons without PTSD.
• Higher prevalence of substance abuse and self-injurious behaviors in people with PTSD as well.

Question 6

How does PTSD impact individuals daily lives?

Answer 6

Affects daily functioning, changes in roles, habits, social engagement, etc, can deeply impact someone’s emotional well- being.

• Affects daily tasks, interpersonal relationships, and general functioning
• May avoid driving and, thus, rely on others for community mobility because of a car accident.
• May have angry outbursts that his or her family that impact their satisfaction and quality of life.
• May become socially withdrawn to avoid an episode in public or a trigger.
• May not attend the annual family 4th of July picnic because the fireworks may trigger a flashback from a combat trauma, and much more

Question 7

PTSD Treatment

Answer 7

-Psychotherapies: Should be trauma-focused (performed by psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatrists, counselors, or advanced psychiatric nurses)
Prolonged Exposure: Strongest evidence, teaches the person with PTSD how to gain control by facing some negative feelings
-Cognitive Processing Therapy: frame traumatic events with their provider through writing and processing assignments, and also eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR); involves calling the trauma to mind while paying attention to back and forth movement or sounds like finger waving side to side, a light, or a tone.
-Medication: Same types that are used for anxiety and depression (SNRI’s, SSRI’s- Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Effexor)

Question 8

Where does occupational therapy fit into the treatment of PTSD?

Answer 8

• An OT can help a person identify stressors and triggers so they can learn and utilize coping strategies.
• OTs could also help educate family, friends, schools and workplaces, and caregivers on symptoms, triggers, and how they can assist the person with PTSD to manage or understand and provide necessary modifications to improve occupational independence and functioning.
• OTs also help to advocate for people with PTSD through community education, legislative work, and other community activities.