Stress disorders PTSD

Stress Disorders and PTSD

  • Overview of Stress Disorders

    • Focus on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

What is Stress?

  • Defined as challenges to physical or emotional well-being that exceed coping abilities and resources.

Your Performance and Stress Levels

  • Performance Curve

    • Stress Levels:

      • Under-stressed

      • Just Right

      • Over-stressed

    • Range of states from boredom to burnout:

      • Low stress: Bored, unmotivated

      • Just right: Creative, productive, focused

      • High stress: Overwhelmed, burned out

Diagnosing Coping Difficulties

  • Adjustment Disorder

    • Psychological response to common stressors.

    • Characterized by clinically significant emotional or behavioral symptoms.

    • Often regarded as a benign and least stigmatizing diagnosis.

    • Symptoms manifest within 3 months of the stressor, generally subside within 6 months.

What if the Stressor is Severe?

  • Defining Trauma

    • Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence through:

      1. Direct experience.

      2. Witnessing events as they occur to others.

      3. Learning of traumatic events occurring to close individuals.

      4. Experiencing repeated exposure to details of traumatic events (e.g., first responders).

Examining the DSM-5 Definition of Trauma

  • Discussion points:

    • Changes in definitions over time.

    • Decrease in exposure to trauma yet increase in PTSD diagnoses.

    • Importance of a precise definition of trauma versus broader interpretations.

Symptoms After Trauma

  • Common Reactions:

    • Re-Experiencing

      • Intrusive memories, flashbacks, and distressing dreams.

    • Avoidance

      • Avoiding thoughts, feelings, or reminders of the traumatic event.

    • Negative Cognitions and Mood

      • Feelings of blame, estrangement, diminished interest, and memory issues.

    • Arousal

      • Behavior such as aggression, reckless actions, and sleep disturbances.

Acute Stress Disorder vs. PTSD

  • Acute Stress Disorder:

    • Symptoms lasting for 2 days to a month after trauma.

  • PTSD:

    • Symptoms persist for over a month.

Understanding Complex PTSD (c-PTSD)

  • Not currently included in DSM.

  • Characterized by long-standing, repeated traumas and additional symptoms like emotional control difficulties, extreme distrust, and tumultuous relationships.

PTSD and Epigenetics

  • Exploration of intergenerational trauma, including cases of enslavement and war, affecting multiple generations.

Lifetime Prevalence of PTSD

  • Statistics:

    • 70% of Americans experience trauma; however, only ~7% develop PTSD.

    • Factors affecting PTSD rates include:

      • Type of trauma.

      • Degree of exposure.

Demographic and Individual Risk Factors

  • Higher PTSD rates in:

    • Females and racially/ethnically minoritized individuals.

  • Social and psychological factors:

    • Social support, neuroticism, pre-existing mental health conditions, and cognitive appraisals influence risk.

Protective Factors and Prevention

  • Protective factors include:

    • Higher IQ, socioeconomic status, and social support.

  • Prevention strategies:

    • Efficacy of psychological debriefing is questionable; crisis intervention and experimental treatments show more promise.

Treatment of PTSD

  • Recommended treatments include:

    • Prolonged exposure therapy (including virtual reality).

    • Cognitive processing therapy.

    • Medication options.

Exam Preparation

  • Content scope includes all learned material, specifically regarding abnormal psychology, stress disorders, and PTSD.

  • Exam structure:

    • 25 multiple choice questions.

    • Diagnosis and treatment matching questions.

    • Short answer questions examining different assessment approaches.