PSYCH 350 Unit 3 Trauma l

Trauma prevalence

About 70% of adults report experiencing at least one traumatic event in their lifetime.

College students trauma prevalence

Between 70% and 85% report experiencing trauma, and roughly 1 in 4 report three or more events.

Stressor

A demand that triggers a stress response (e.g., sudden noise, arguments, feeling judged, caregiving, injury, losing a job, or crowds).

Stress

The response to a real or perceived stressor involving thoughts, emotions, and behavioral urges like worry, irritability, avoidance, and coping (does not require actual danger).

Trauma

A response to an event that is deeply distressing or life-threatening and exceeds a person's ability to cope or feel safe, involving intense fear, horror, or loss of control.

Acute trauma

Single-event trauma exposure.

Chronic trauma

Repeated trauma event exposure.

Complex trauma

Multiple, interpersonal traumas, often occurring early in life.

Factors shaping trauma impact

Number of exposures, source, proximity, and developmental period.

Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

Diagnoses tied to an identifiable trauma or stressor include PTSD, acute stress disorder (ASD), adjustment disorder, and prolonged grief.

Criterion A Trauma Exposure

Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence through direct experience, witnessing, learning it happened to a close loved one, or repeated aversive details.

What does NOT count as Criterion A Trauma

Exposure through TV/movies/social media (unless job-related), standard life-threatening illnesses, natural deaths of loved ones, job loss, divorce, financial strain, bullying, or bad breakups.

PTSD Cluster 1 (Intrusion)

Requires at least 1 symptom: Flashbacks, nightmares, recurrent distressing memories, or strong emotional/physical reactions to reminders.

PTSD Cluster 2 (Avoidance)

Requires at least 1 symptom: Avoiding thoughts or feelings about the trauma, or avoiding people, places, situations, or cues.

PTSD Cluster 3 (Negative Cognitions and Mood)

Requires at least 2 symptoms: Feelings of shame/anger/guilt, self-blame, negative beliefs ("I am bad"), emotional numbness, loss of positive emotions, or inability to remember key parts of the event.

PTSD Cluster 4 (Arousal and Reactivity)

Requires at least 2 symptoms: Exaggerated startle response, irritability/aggression, reckless behavior, trouble concentrating, and sleep disturbance.

Complex PTSD (CPTSD) - DSM-5-TR Perspective

Not a separate diagnosis; standard PTSD criteria and negative cognitions/mood cluster are considered broad enough (uses standard PTSD code).

Complex PTSD (CPTSD) - ICD-11 Perspective

Considered a distinct diagnosis following prolonged, repeated, and inescapable interpersonal trauma, including core PTSD symptoms plus disturbances in emotional regulation and self/other perception.