Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
From WikiLectures
In general[edit | edit source]
- w>m (4:1)
- the reaction is subjective
- External stressor -> long-lasting stress reaction (acute stress disorder becomes PTSD)
What are possible stressors?[edit | edit source]
- Actual death, treathened death, combat, raped, abused, neglect
- Exposure: it can affect yourself or someone else (e.g. you can get PTSD if your child died) → Experienced, witnessed, learned, repeated aftermath (responders)
Clinical picture[edit | edit source]
- Intrusion: intrusive thoughts: flashbacks, intrusive thoughts (recollection of psychotraumatic events)
- Negative effect on mood and cognition: distorted memories, negative thoughts or expectations, constant negative emotions
- Dissociation
- avoidance: e.g. not talking about it, not going to the place
- arousal: irritability (not anxiety, angry outbursts), hypervigilance, sleep disturbance
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
- is made clinical with the emphasis on ruling people in
Classification[edit | edit source]
- Acute stress disorder: > 3 D but < 1 month
- PTSD > 1 month
- Adjustment disorder
Therapy[edit | edit source]
- Psychotherapy (e.g. psychodynamic analysis, group therapy): the goal is here really to re-experience the trauma in a controlled manner and work through it
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (bilobal activation? desensitization?)
- Pharmacotherapy
- Prazosin: helps tremendously with insomnia and nightmares
- SSRI, SNRI (usually reserved for people, who have either very severe symptoms or don´t want to do psychotherapy
- if panic disorders occur: benzos
Complications[edit | edit source]
- they can self-medicate (substance abuse) and develop mood disorders
- can evolve into F62.0 enduring personality change
- Suicide