Download Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS
DISORDER
(PTSD)
By: Jahzeel Avila
DEFINITION
PTSD- An anxiety disorder characterized by
haunting memories, nightmares, social with
drawl, jumpy anxiety, and/or insomnia that
lingers for four weeks or more after a
traumatic experience.
-one traumatic event.
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C-PTSD: repetitive trauma
Also known as “shellshock” or “battle
fatigue”.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRv56gsqkzs
ASSOCIATED FEATURES

Some effects are bad flashback, recurring
haunting memories and nightmares, a numbed
social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, and insomnia.
Results in avoidance and Physical Psycho arousal
(difficulty sleeping/concentrating, exaggerated
startle responses, hyper vigilant).
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Often seen in survivors of accidents, disasters,
and violent and sexual assaults.
ETIOLOGY
Causes- Living through a traumatic experience
such as war, abuse, accidents, etc.
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War veterans suffer from PTSD b/c of the Flash
backs of the traumatic war experience.
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1.
2.
Examples:
Vietnam and Iraq veterans suffer sever trauma
from their experiences.
9/11 victims were experiencing nightmares of
the attack.
PREVALENCE

The lifetime Prevalence rate is 8 % of the U.S
population.
TREATMENT
Main Therapy = Psychotherapy (talk therapy),
medications
 Psychotherapy – therapy were the patient talks
on a one-on-one conversation with a therapist.
Usually takes/lasts 6-12 weeks depending on the
patient.
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CONT.
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1.
Cognitive Therapy is also a treatment and has 3
types:
Exposure Therapy- Helps people face their fear
by exposing them to trauma they've experienced
in a safe way; uses mental imagery, writing, or
visits to the place.
2. Cognitive Restructuring- Helps make sense of
bad memories; people may remember events
inaccurately causing guilt about something that
wasn’t their fault.
 The therapists help patience look at what
happened in a realistic way.
3. Stress Inoculation- Tries to reduce symptoms by
teaching how to reduce anxiety; helps people look
at memories in a healthy way.
PROGNOSIS
PTSD could persist fro decades/ lifetime with a
series of relapses.
 The long term outcomes vary; typically after 30
or 40 years later PTSD victims relapse.
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DISCUSSION QUESTION

Could PTSD be related to conditioning, if so what
type? Why?