Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Question 1

What is the complex somatic, cognitive, affective, and behavioral effects of psychological trauma?

Answer 1

PTSD

Question 2

1) Rape
2) Childhood sexual abuse
3) Intimate partner violence

These are examples of what kind of trauma?

Answer 2

Sexual Trauma

Question 3

1) Death of a loved one
2) Critically ill child

These are examples of what kind of trauma?

Answer 3

Trauma to someone in close interpersonal network

Question 4

1) Assault
2) Childhood physical abuse
3) Threat of violence

These are examples of what kind of trauma?

Answer 4

Interpersonal violence

Question 5

1) War
2) Witnessing death
3) Witnessing dead bodies

These are examples of what kind trauma?

Answer 5

Participation in organized violence

Question 6

What injury has a strong correlation with the presence and extent of PTSD?

Answer 6

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Question 7

What areas of the brain may show decreased volume during an MRI in a patient with PTSD?

Answer 7

1) Left amygdala (fear center)
2) Hippocampus (memories)
3) Anterior cingulate cortex

Question 8

Studies have shown increased levels of ________________ in patients with PTSD.

Answer 8

Norepinepherine Levels

Question 9

What are some of the behavior responses a patient with PTSD may have in response to regular stimuli?

Answer 9

1) Flashbacks
2) Severe anxiety symptoms
3) Fleeing
4) Combative behaviors

Question 10

What can lead to furthering of symptoms such as emotional numbing, diminished interests in activities and detachment from others in a patient with PTSD?

Answer 10

Avoidance

Question 11

What is the focus of the IDC for a patient with suspected PTSD?

Answer 11

SCREENING for PTSD

Question 12

What is the requirement for psychiatry to make a diagnosis of PTSD?

Answer 12

Symptoms must be present for at least four weeks (1 month) following trauma

Question 13

What are examples of Psychotherapy that can be used as a portion of the treatment for a patient with PTSD?

Answer 13

1) Exposure Therapy
2) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
3) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Question 14

What is the goal of psychotherapy?

Answer 14

Helps the patient integrate the events in an adaptive way

Question 15

What is the the first line therapy (Medication) of choice for a patient suffering from PTSD? Give an example?

Answer 15

SSRIs (ie: Sertraline)

Question 16

In a patient suffering from PTSD, what medication is used to help symptomatically treat nightmares?

Answer 16

Prazosin (Alpha Blocker)

Question 17

In a patient suffering from PTSD, what medication is used to help symptomatically treat tremors and sympathetic responses?

Answer 17

Beta blockers

Question 18

In a patient suffering from PTSD, what medication is used to help symptomatically treat comorbid psychosis?

Answer 18

Antipsychotics

Question 19

What medications should be avoided in patients with PTSD due to safety and dependency issues?

Answer 19

Benzodiazepines

Question 20

What betters the prognosis for PTSD?

Answer 20

Sooner Therapy

Question 21

You suspect a patient has PTSD. They do not have SI/HI. They also complain of tremors since the event that caused the PTSD. What is a suitable medication that may be used to treat the tremors?

A) Diazepam
B) Metopolol
C) Halidol
D) Prazosin

Answer 21

B) Metoprolol

Beta Blockers can be used to symptomatically treat essential tremors associated with PTSD.

Question 22

What is the gold standard treatment for PTSD?

Answer 22

Psychotherapy AND SSRIs