Trauma and Stressor Disorders

Mental Health in the Media Course

What are the four main categories of PTSD symptoms?

1. Intrusion symptoms (re-experiencing the trauma)

2. Avoidance behaviors (avoiding reminders of the trauma)

3. Negative changes in mood and thoughts (negative beliefs, emotional numbing)

4. Alterations in arousal and reactivity (irritability, hypervigilance)

How do vivid audio and visual elements impact a film’s influence, and what are some other cinematic influences beyond these?

Vivid and audio visual elements have the strongest influence and can be captivating, conjuring, provocative, and manipulative. Beyond these, films also utilize narrative, characters, mise-en-scene, and climax.

What are some examples of pre-deployment risk factors that might increase a veteran’s likelihood of developing PTSD?

Acute stress disorder symptoms last for less than one month, whereas PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms persist for more than one month after the traumatic event.

What were some key findings of the Vassar et al. (2020) study regarding the portrayal of PTSD symptoms in popular war movies?

The Vassar et al. (2020) study found that most war movies portray characters developing PTSD, but the focus is often on trauma exposure and negative mood/cognitions, with less emphasis on avoidance and intrusive symptoms. Only one character in the sample sought treatment.

Explain the concept of “emotional numbing” as a symptom of PTSD.

Emotional numbing is a symptoms of PTSD characterized by a feeling of detachment from emotions, a reduced ability to experience pleasure, and a general sense of being emotionally distant or unaffected by events.

According to the “Picture This: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder” document, what are two reasons why understanding PTSD is important for entertainment creators?

Understanding PTSD is important for entertainment creators to deal with sensitive topics appropriately and to potentially help their audience by providing accurate information and reducing stigma associated with the disorder.

What was the most commonly portrayed DSM-5 PTSD criterion in the war movies analyzed by Vassar et al. (2020)?

The most commonly portrayed DSM-5 PTSD criterion in the war movies analyzed by Vassar et al. (2020) was the characters’ exposure to trauma (the stressor).

Describe one way in which the “Picture This” document suggest filmmakers can effectively depict flashbacks related to traumatic events.

The “Picture This” document suggests that instead of using voiceover, filmmakers can actively show flashbacks to past events in a storyline involving PTSD to help audiences understand the re-experiencing of the trauma.

How can lack of social support affect the risk and course of PTSD?

Poor social support is associated with a greater risk for developing PTSD and can hinder recovery. Conversely, community involvement and family cohesion have been linked to lower rates of PTSD among veterans.

What is one of the recommendations the Vassar et al. (2020) study makes regarding media portrayals of PTSD?

The Vassar et al. (2020) study recommends that the media adopt the Entertainment Industries Council’s guidelines to showcase positive help-seeking behaviors and reduce misperceptions and stigma surrounding veterans’ mental health.

Intrusion symptoms

recurrent and unwanted thoughts, memories, dreams, or flashbacks related to the traumatic event

Acute Stress Disorder

a mental health condition that can occur in the first month following a traumatic event, with symptoms similar to PTSD but shorter in duration

Dissociative reactions

a range of experiences involving a detachment from one’s body or mental processes, or a sense of unreality

Negative Alterations in Cognition and Mood

negative beliefs about oneself, others, or the world; persistent negative emotional states such as fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame; feeling of detachment; and inability to experience positive emotions

How many people in the U.S. have PTSD in a given year?

7.7 million American adults age 18 and older, or about 3.5% of people in this age group in a given year, have PTSD

How many of the Vietnam veterans experienced PTSD some point after the war?

19%

What percent of cases may develop Acute Stress Disorder following a traumatic events?

20%

What is the prevalence rate of PTSD?

1-year prevalence is 3-4%, lifetime rate is 7-9%

What percent of those who show PTSD symptoms recover within 3 months?

50%

What percentage of veterans who served in Operations Iragi Freedom and Enduring have been diagnosed with PTSD?

between 11% to 20%