PTSD Flashcards
(22 cards)
DSM-5 Criteria for PTSD (A-E)
Exposure to traumatic event, At least 1 intrusion symptom, at least 1 avoidance symptom, at least 3 (2 in kids) negative alterations in cognitions and mood that began after trauma, at least 3 (2 in kids) alterations in arousal and reactivity that began or worsened after trauma, and Symptoms began ro worsened after the trauma and continues for 1+ months
Intrusion symptoms of PTSD (DSM-5)
- Reccurent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the trauma, or in kids, receptive play regarding the trauma themes
- Reccurent distressing dreams in relation to the events
- Dissociative relations (flashbacks) in which the individual feels or acts as if the traumas were recurring
- Intense or prolonged distress or physiological reactivity in réponse to reminders of the trauma
Avoidance symptoms of PTSD (DSM-5)
- Avoids internal reminders (thoughts, feelings, or physical sensations) that arouse recollections of the trauma
- Avoids external reminders (people, places, conversations, activities, objects, situations) that arouse recollection of the trauma
Negative alterations in cognition and mood (PTSD DSM-5)
-Inability to remember an important aspect of trauma
-Persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or expectations about one’s self, others, or the world
-Persistent excessive blame of self or others about the trauma
-Pervasive negative emotional
-Markedly diminished interests or participation in significant activities
-Feeling of detachment or estrangement from others
Persistent inability to experience positive emotions (eg loving feelings, psychic numbing)
Alterations in arousal and reactivity (PTSD DSM-5)
- Irritable or aggressing behavior
- Reckless or self-destructive behavior
- Hyper-vigilance
- Exaggerated startle response
- Problems with concentration
- Sleep disturbance
What were the main changes from the DSM IV to the DSM 5 for PTSD?
-PTSD moved from the anxiety disorders to a new class “trauma and stressor-related disorders”
-Definition of “trauma” changed
Types of trauma narrowed (no longer can include unexpected death of family/close friend due to natural causes)
-Traumatic event must now be experienced by the person directly (including witnessing)
-No longer “fear, helplessness, or horror” (A2)
-Added a diagnostic clutter (re-experiencing, avoidance, negative cognitions and mood, and arousal) cog one is new
Prevalence stats for PTSD?
Lifetime=6.8%-8.7%
women=9.7%
Men=3.6%
Gender differences for PTSD
3:1 to 2:1 F –> M
Age of onset for PTSD
Varies
Comorbidity for PTSD
Depression and anxiety disorders
Course for PTSD
Chronic, although symptoms can wax and wan
in most cases (74%) begin within one month of the event, delayed onset is very rare
Pretaumatic
Potential risk factors existing prior to the ‘event’ that may place someone at risk for or be prognostic of developing PTSD
- temperamental, comorbid psychopathology
- environmental
- Genetic/physiological
Peritraumatic
experiences occurring during and immediately after the trauma
- severity of the trauma
- perceived life threat
- interpersonal violence
- dissociation
- military personnel-witnessing the atrocities, killing the enemy, being the perpetrator
Posttraumatic
Cognitive factors, coping strategies, social/environmental support, subsequent life events, comorbid psychopathology
Predictors of PTSD: Pre-existing factors
- Prior trauma
- Family psychopathology (esp anxiety, mood, or substance abuse)
- Premorbid psychological problems, (especially anxiety, mood, or substance abuse)
- Being female
- Neuroticism
- Lower IQ
- Small Hippocampus
- Ppl who have disturbing thoughts or images of trauma
Mower two-process model
- People with PTSD developed conditioned responses more readily to aversive events and these are harder to extinguish
- Fears fail to be extinguished due to avoidance, which interfere w proper exposure
- ->But doesn’t adequately explain why some develop PTSD and others don’t
Dual Representation Theory
Pathological responses arise when trauma memories are dissociated from the ordinary memory system
- VAM (verbally accessible memory)
- SAM (situationally accessible memory)
Verbally Accessible Memory (VAM)
Can be deliberately retrieved and described to others; in trauma memory, the amount of info available is restricted to what is consciously processed
Situationally Accessible Memory (SAM)
Triggered by situational reminders; more extensive, includes bodily responses and sensations; encoded in unconscious; could be reason why flashbacks are
Emotional Processessing Theory (Fao’s)
Trauma results in formation of fear structure in memory (3 elements)
- Stimuli (sights, sounds, other sensations during event)
- Responses (physical/emotional reaction associated with event)
- Meanings associated with stumble and responses
Types of Trauma:
- Natural disaster
- Explosion/fire
- Unexpected death
- Rape
- Sexual Assault
- Robbery
- Assault w a weapon
- Car accident
- Warfare or combat
- Life threatening illness
- Child abuse
- Family violence
- Stalking
- Abortion
Risk factors for trauma exposure
- Psychiatric symptoms/disorder
- Difficulties in interpersonal relationships
- Impairment in occupational functioning
