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