PSYC 212: Exam 2, Chapt. 7

What constitutes as a potentially traumatic event?

Exposure to actual or threat of death, serious injury, or sexual violence.

What are the Intrusive Reexperiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress?

Intrusive thoughts, memories, or images of the event, recurrent distressing dreams with trauma-related content, flashbacks, intense or prolonged psychological distress when cued, and strong physiological response when cued.

What are the Avoidance symptoms of posttraumatic stress?

Efforts to avoid external reminders or cues, efforts to avoid memories, thoughts, feelings about the event.

What are the Negative Mood & Cognition symptoms of posttraumatic stress?

Persistent negative beliefs about self, others, the world, persistent negative emotions (e.g., fear, anger, shame), persistent diminished ability to feel positive emotions (e.g., loving feelings, satisfaction, happiness), more common when people face interpersonal trauma, inability to remember details of the event (dissociative anemia), distorted blame about the cause/consequences of the event, diminished interest or participation in activities, and feelings of detachment or estrangement from others.

What are the Arousal & Reactivity symptoms of posttraumatic stress?

Reckless or self-destructive behavior (includes self-harm), problems with concentration, irritable, angry outbursts with little or no provocation (usually involving verbal or physical aggression), sleep disturbance (not including nightmares), hypervigilance, and exaggerated startle response.

What is the criteria for PTSD?

Exposure to a PTE, at least 1 Intrusive Reexperiencing symptom, at least 1 Avoidance symptom, at least 2 Negative Mood/Cognition symptoms, at least 2 Increased Arousal/Reactivity symptoms, for at least 1 month. 

What are the Dissociative Symptoms?

Derealization (what’s happening feels unreal) and depersonalization (detachment from the self in mind or body).

What is the criteria for Acute Stress Disorder?

Exposure to PTE, at least 3 days but no more than a month, at least 9 symptoms.

Which symptoms are listed for Acute Stress Disorder but not PTSD?

Dissociative Symptoms

What is the role of the amygdala in PTSD?

The amygdala creates physiological arousal and people with PTSD show greater amygdala reactivity to stressors.

What is the role of genetics in PTSD?

Genetics play a role in arousal symptoms. MZ twins have higher concordance for PTE exposure and PTSD than DZ twins.

What three treatments for PTSD are empirically supported?

Prolonged Exposure (PE), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

What is a flashback?

The experience of reliving the event in response to triggers. It is reactive and tends to be fairly brief, although it may seem longer for the person who experienced it. It is physical and almost automatic. The person behaves as if they are back in the PTE.

How prevalent is PTSD?

7-8% in the USA

How prevalent are PTEs?

Lifetime prevalence: 90%, actually around 55%

What is the difference in the prevalence of PTSD by gender?

PTSD is more common in women (10%) than men (5%).

What is the most common response to a PTE?

Resilience

What kinds of PTEs put people at greater risk of developing PTSD?

Interpersonal traumas such as sexual assault, rape, physical assault, and combat exposure.

What is a protective factor against PTSD?

Social support

What does a predisposition to dissociation mean for PTSD?

People who are more suggestible, hypnotizable, and prone to dissociating are at greater risk for PTSD.

How might the amygdala contribute to comorbidities between PTSD and other disorders?

Anxiety disorders have a high comorbidity rate, and the amygdala is involved with them.

What are the 5 relevant areas that a patient doing CPT is taught to restructure?

Safety, trust, power/control, esteem, intimacy

What does PE focus on and what type of trauma is it best at dealing with?

Exposure, non-interpersonal trauma.

What does CPT focus on and what type of trauma is it best at dealing with?

Cognitive reprocessing, interpersonal

While it is very empirically effective, what is controversial about EMDR?

Dismantling studies have found the eye movements to be unnecessary.

What is the track of the “slow circuit” in the Preparedness Model?

Thalamus → cortex → amygdala → respond to threat

What is the track of the “fast circuit” in the Preparedness Model?

Thalamus → amygdala → hypothalamus → body (via glands)

Who is most likely to experience PTEs?

Men, younger individuals, minority groups, people high in extraversion, people with externalizing behavior problems (ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, etc.)