Final Exam Flashcards
(105 cards)
What initiates the “fight-or-flight” response? (A stress response)
Stress Exposure
Hypothalamus activates:
Sympathetic Nervous System and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis
Increased heart rate, increased respiration, decreased digestion
Sympathetic Nervous System
Triggers release of stress hormones, e.g., cortisol
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis
Stress response (F/F) in short term
Adaptive
Overractivation/repeated activation of the stress response in long term
Maladaptive
Symptoms begin within four weeks of traumatic event; lasts for less than one month
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)
Symptoms may begin either shortly after the exposure to traumatic event, or months or years afterward and last for at least one month
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
The 4 symptom clusters of PTSD
Intrusion Symptoms, Avoidance Symptoms, Negative Alterations in Cognitions & Mood Symptoms, and Alterations in Arousal & Reactivity Symptoms
Intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, psychological and physiological distress at reminders
Intrusion Symptoms
Avoids memories, thoughts, feelings associated with the trauma; avoids external reminders (e.g., conversations, activities, places, people) of trauma
Avoidance Symptoms
Forgets parts of the trauma, persistent, distorted cognitions about the cause or consequences of the trauma that leads individual to blame self, diminished interest and estrangement from others
Negative Alterations in Cognitions & Mood Symptoms
Irritability, reckless or self-destructive behavior, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, problems with concentration, sleep problems
Alterations in Arousal & Reactivity Symptoms
Lifetime prevalence of trauma exposure:
Women = 50%
Men = 60%
Lifetime prevalence of PTSD
8%, Women = 10%, Men = 5%
T/F: Most people who experience trauma do develop PTSD
False; most people who experience trauma do not develop PTSD
Who develops PTSD?
People with childhood experiences of trauma (greater risk) and people who lack social support
Through repeated exposure to fearful situations
OR
Through repeated exposure to perception of life threats
Excessive Activation of Stress Response
Features of the trauma that predicts who develops PTSD
- Direct exposure
- Life threat/injury
- Frequency of trauma (single incident event versus multiple traumas)
Severity of Trauma
Witnessing someone being badly injured or killed
Being involved in a natural disaster or a life threatening accident
Combat exposure
Frequently experienced traumas
Prolonged Exposure (Foa) - behavioral
Cognitive Processing Therapy (Resick) - CBT
Exposure-based treatments for PTSD
Teaches you to gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings, and situations
Prolonged Exposure (PE)
Teaches you how to evaluate and change upsetting thoughts had since trauma; would usually write about the trauma
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Other Treatments for PTSD
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Medication (SSRIs)