IB Psychology Paper 2 Abnormal Psych (PTSD Etiologies)

Anxiety

PTSD is this type of disorder

DSM V PTSD symptoms

Arousal, avoidance and re-experiencing

DSM V

The book used by the APA for diagnosing disorders

Hippocampus

Low volume and function of this brain area could be a bio explanation of PTSD explaining the symptoms of memory loss and inability to control the flow of memories

Amygdala

Decreased volume and hyper-activity of this brain area could be a bio explanation of PTSD explaining increased arousal and anxiety (associated with the stress response)

vmPFC

Decreased volume and hypo-resonsiveness of this area of the brain could be a bio explanation of PTSD that explains the inability to cognitively reassess a situation and act impulsively

Karl et al

Conducted a meta-analysis of MRI studies on patients with PTSD by looking at 50 studies and found the strongest correlation in the brain and PTSD had to do with reduced hippocampal volume. Also showed a correlation between reduced amygdala vulume and PTSD symptoms.

Gilbertson

Did a case-control study of hippocampal volume and PTSD by looking at twin pairs. In each pair there was a twin who went to war and one who didn't. In one group the twin who went to war developed PTSD. The results showed that both twins in the PTSD group had 10% smaller hippocampi. This is bi-directional result, did a small hippocampus cause PTSD or did PTSD cause the smaller hippocampus.

Cognitive appraisal

How someone thinks about their traumatic experience, its consequences and/or other events following it

Negative cognitive appraisal

Type of appraisal associated with 'survivors guilt' experienced by many veterans with PTSD

Avoidance

Negative cognitive appraisals can explain symptoms associated with this, because appraisal will increase feelings of negative emotions and stress a symptom also associated with depression

Ehler and Clark

These two created a cognitive model of PTSD that stated the trauma led to negative appraisals and effects on memory including those related to fear conditioning.

Hitchcock

Studied cognitive appraisal as a predictor of PTSD by looking at correlations between negative appraisals and symptoms of PTSD using the CAPS (Clinically Administered PTSD Scale). Found a correlation between negative appraisals and PTSD symptoms

Interaction of Biology and Cognition

These two areas of psychology are linked specifically when dealing with the brain and reappraisals, seen in the Urry study

Cognitive Reappraisals

Changing the way that a person looks at a certain event can change the way there body reacts to that event. (Power Poses)

self-efficacy

The belief that a person controls their environment and are able to change outcomes. Women who experience PTSD tend to have lower levels of this

Urry

Studied 19 participants without PTSD who were exposed to a range of emotional stimuli and asked to change their thoughts of the stimuli. The results showed a negative correlation between vmPFC and amygdala activation. (higher vmPFC, lower amygdala)

Socioeconomics/Minorities

There has been a negative correlation found between these two factors and the risk of developing PTSD

A lack of resources to deal with the trauma

Socioeconomic status may increase stress after a traumatic event because...

Irish et al

Studied correlations between income and PTSD by looking at 356 participants who had been in car accidents and found women were more at risk in developing PTSD as well as a substantial economic difference in the women who developed it

Garrison et al

Studied cross-cultural difference in the US of developing PTSD after a natural disaster by studying participants in Florida after Hurricane Andrew. Found through structured interviews that young women were 3X more likely to develop PTSD and Higher levels for Blacks (8.3%) AND Hispanics (6.1%)

Luby

This study also shows that poverty could lead to a smaller hippocampus which has been associated with PTSD symptoms.

Sapolsky

This animal study can also show the cortisol can lead to a shrinking of the hippocampus

Parenting Styles

This could be a variable within poverty/socioeconomics that could mitigate the effects of lack of resources