Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Psychoanalytic therapy

________: catharsis= reliving emotional trauma to relieve suffering.

CRF system

________ activates fear and anxiety areas.

SSRIs can be helpful by relieving

heightened anxiety and panic attacks common to PTSD

Cognitive-behavioral treatment

Imaginal exposure to memories of traumatic event

Increase positive coping skills

Increase social support

Highly effective

Neurobiological model

Threatening cues activate CRF system

Diagnostic Criteria: Exposure to

actual or threatened event

Diagnostic Criteria: Presence of

one or more intrusional symptoms

Diagnostic Criteria: Persistent avoidance of

stimuli associated with traumatic event

Diagnostic Criteria: Negative alterations in

cognitions and mood associated with traumatic event

Diagnostic Criteria: Marked alterations in

arousal and activity associated with the traumatic event

Diagnostic Criteria: Sleep

disturbance

Diagnostic Criteria: Significant

distress

Diagnostic Criteria: Not attributable to

substance use

Causes of PTSD

Trauma intensity

Generalized biological vulnerability

Generalized psychological vulnerability

Trauma Intensity

– PTSD more likely with severe trauma

Generalized biological vulnerability

Twin studies

Reciprocal gene-environment interactions

Generalized psychological vulnerability

Beliefs about uncontrollability and unpredictability of threatening situations

Poor social support =

greater risk

Most people who undergo traumatic events

do not develop PTSD

Type of trauma effects

prevalence

experiencing repeated sexual assault makes an individual

2 to 3 times as likely to develop PTSD

Proximity –

more likely to develop PTSD if closer to the trauma

Proximity effects

prevalence