Week 3 Slides Flashcards
Acute & Posttraumatic Stress Disorders
Same criteria except…..
* Acute Stress Disorder (A S D)
Lasts 4 weeks or less
* Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (P T S D)
Symptoms for at least one month and may persist for months,
years, or even decades
PTSD Trauma Criteria
A. Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one (or more) of the following ways:
1. Directly experiencing the traumatic events).
2. Witnessing, in person, the events) as it occurred to others.
3. Learning that the traumatic events) occurred to a close family member or close friend. In cases of actual or threatened death of a family member or friend, the events) must have been violent or accidental.
4. Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic events) (e.g., first responders collecting human remains; police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse).
Notes on Posttraumatic Stress Disorders
Although many people experience a traumatic event (more than three
quarters of Canadians)
* Only a small percentage go on to develop PTSD
* 5-8% lifetime prevalence
Risk of being traumatized and developing P T S D is higher for people
living in war-torn countries and for those engaging in hazardous activities
or occupations
Research indicates that severe, chronic cases of P T S D have smaller
hippocampi in the brain
* Constant stress may damage the hippocampus
Psychodynamic Perspective
heoretical Perspectives (1 of 10)
- Psychodynamic theorists view anxiety
disorders as attempts by the ego to control the conscious emergence of threatening impulses - Sexual or aggressive impulses
- Ego mobilizes defence mechanisms to divert these impulses
Projection
* E.g., fear or knives– fear of hurting
someone with a knife
Displacement
* E.g., Little Hans
Largely unproven
Learning/ Behavioural Perspective
Theoretical Perspectives
Learning and behaviour theorists
explain anxiety disorders through
conditioning and observational learning
Two-factor model: O. Hobart Mowrer
* Classical and Operant Conditioning
Challenges:
* Not everyone experiences classical condition to develop phobia
* Some types of anxiety seem to be driven by cognitions
Cognitive Perspective
Cognitive theorists and
researchers focus on
dysfunctional patterns of
thinking
Self-defeating or irrational
beliefs
* e.g., Intrusive thoughts vs.
OCD
Oversensitivity to threat
Anxiety sensitivity
* Beliefs that internal emotions or bodily arousal will get out of control
* Misattributions for panic attacks
Biological Perspective
Genetic Factors
* Higher concordance rates M Z twins
Neuroticism
Biological Perspective
Theoretical Perspectives
Neurotransmitters
* Gamma-aminobutyric acid (G A B A) an inhibitory neurotransmitter plays a role regulating anxiety
* Benzodiazepines a class of minor tranquilizers (Valium and Ativan)
Serotonin or Norepinephrine receptor dysfunction
* Antidepressants
Biological Perspective
The Fear Network
* responses to fear are mediated by the “fear network”
* centred in the amygdala involve interaction with the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex
Panic Disorder
* Biological response or cognitive re-appraisal?
Treatment
Psychodynamic Approaches
Anxiety= unconscious conflicts
Treatmet= become aware of the unconscious conflicts
Humanistic Approaches
Treatment
Anxiety= conflict between your true self and who you think you should be
Treatment= get in touch with and express true emotions and self
Biological Approaches
Treatment
Benzodiazepines: clonazepam (Rivotril) and alprazolam (Xanax)
* High risk of dependence
* Rebound effects
Antidepressants
* Tricylics
* Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
* SNRI (serotonin-norepineprhine reuptake inhibitor)
Issues with meds:
* Not hugely effective (e.g., 52% vs. 43% symptom free)
* Relapse after cessation
Behaviour-Based Approaches
Treatment
Exposure!
Systematic Desensitization
* Relaxation techniques
Gradual Exposure
* No relaxation
Fear-Stimulus Hierarchy
Flooding
Cognitive Approaches
Treatment
Awareness of cognitions
Cognitive Restructuring
