...Pristael Martinez 07/25/13 Summary for HES 1 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Causes and Symptoms Every individual has gone through some sort of danger. Everyone, at some point, has been afraid. Fear triggers many instant changes in the body. These changes help the body prepare itself to defend against danger or to avoid it. This is taught as the “fight or flight” response. It is a healthy reaction meant to protect an individual from harm. But in post traumatic stress disorder, this reaction is changed or damaged. Traumatic events bring out a reaction from an individual that may be different from that of another. Everyone is unique to their own ability to manage fear or stress and to cope with any threats posed by a traumatic event. This is why not everyone who experiences or witnesses a trauma will develop post traumatic stress disorder. It is not known why traumatic events cause PTSD in some individuals and not in others. In a time a traumatic event, the body will release stress hormones and chemicals. Generally, the body will recover after the event, and hormone and chemical levels will return to normal. For some reason the body of an individual with PTSD will continue to release the stress hormones and chemicals. Whether or not an individual will develop PTSD depends on many contributing factors. Some of these factors can be genes, emotions, and family settings, the intensity or duration of the trauma, any injuries or deaths as a result of the traumatic event...
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...Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Abstract Posttraumatic stress disorder is a common and disabling disorder that develops as a consequence of traumatic events and is characterized by distressing re-experiencing portions of the trauma, avoidance of reminders, emotional numbing and hyper-arousal. In spite of the deleterious impact of PTSD within the U.S. military, our current understanding of the human pathophysiology governing the divergent paths associated with extreme stress response the remains unabated. Given the widespread phenomenon of ‘trauma’, it begs the question of whether or not preexisting features accompany some suffers who have developed PTSD and why others may or may not face the same effect. Much research has been conducted in this arena and it seems that no one researcher has a definitive cause, much less a standardized treatment approach for PTSD sufferers. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops as a consequence of traumatic events such as interpersonal violence, disaster, severe accidents, or other life-threatening experiences. The most common characteristics of PTSD are the re-experiencing of symptoms linked to a specific event. Patients involuntary re-experience aspects of the traumatic event in a very vivid and distressing way. This includes: flashbacks, in which the person acts or feels as if the event were recurring, nightmares, intrusive images or other sensory impressions from the event. For example...
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...terrible, unimaginable. No one understands you. You have no one to talk to. You live in fear. How would you handle it? “The brave men and women, who serve their country and as a result, live constantly with the war inside them, exist in a world of chaos. But the turmoil they experience isn’t who they are; the PTSD invades their minds and bodies.” Robert Koger said this thought-provoking quote in his book, Death´s Revenge. The quote captures the chaotic and fearful nature of PTSD. PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault ("What Is PTSD?"). People who suffer from PTSD can have various symptoms. They often will have vivid flashbacks of the event that triggered the...
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...POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER Abstract This paper offers a clear understanding of posttraumatic stress disorder. Its signs, symptoms, treatment, and preventions. This disorder is commonly known to affect individuals who have been in wars and/or affected by a death of a beloved one. The disorder however varies from person to person in which each uses a different method of approach. It is believed Posttraumatic Disorder (PTSD) is mostly cured through therapeutic treatments, while many of these patients are on antipsychotic drugs which futermore produces unwanted side effects. Individuals with PTSD tend to have problems with transferring short-term to long-term memory. However, there is not a specific way patient memories are affected. PTSD affects more than 3 million people in the U.S alone. This paper will further analyze insights and reports from other experts on managing Posttraumatic stress disorder more proficiently. Introduction This topic center concerns mental and emotional problems people experience in the wake of 'trauma', where trauma is understood to refer to an event involving being a victim of or witness to atrocity, violence, true horror and/or the death of another or near death of one’s self. Examples might include rape, murder, torture, accidents, terrorism, etc. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) describes two trauma disorders: acute stress disorder, and posttraumatic...
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...Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD Jessica Crosier University Of Phoenix COM/156 Professor Steven Tate May 5, 2013 INTRODUCTION Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a crippling condition that comes from a mentally crushing experience. PTSD causes many individuals trauma, and untreated issues that may continue for years if not sought help. Being untreated can lead to not being accepted in many socially and physcological environments. Not all trauma survivors develope PTSD, about 20% of crime victims as well as many other crime victims relate to this. As well as many soldiers returning from war. . As we all take a look into PTSD and the effects and the causes that it has on the victim, there is some good points in here that will help you understand what causes PTSD. The number one cause of PTSD is trauma. Having a traumatic experience many people are cannot process the events of what has happened to them. Many victims are overwhelmed and sometimes haunted by the daily re-accurances of what happened. “Anyone who is involved with a traumatic event, either personally or as a witness, can develop PTSD. For example, a first-aid worker respond to a bad accident may be so psychologically affected by the experience that he or she experiences PTSD. Females seem to be especially vulnerable to the condition, as do people who have other psychological illnesses or a family history of mental disorders.” (Anonymous, 2012) . Symptoms...
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...The meaning of Post- traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) is a type of a mental illness that comes from a experiencing in a major traumatize event in life that can cause a victim to cope leaving them at the mercy of their worst fears. Most of the times that who has PTSD are this person who has served in the military. This person has dealing with particularly horrendous war and combat situation. There is much other type of life experiences that are blame to offset the PTSD. When the PTSD can be unexpected and cannot be controlled, which they are a type of candidate for PTSD. This type of illness not only impact on the person that has PTSD, it also affords other people that are dealing with the person who has PTSD. Example of these people who are there medical personnel giving care of the patients, family members, or co-workers. Some of the event that triggers the PTSD could become violent assault, a major accident such as sexual abuse, natural disaster, and rape, car crash ("Types Of Traumatic Events", 2009).History of the Illness The post traumatic stress disorder is a legitimate and can functional diagnose but is not the only answer to a trauma event. This type of disorder is frequency in the ordinary population is between 1-8%. This type of disorder is a type of linked with excessive rates of harm in the social and job-related operation. This type of disorder can be distinguished from a further psychiatric condition as a chemical substance in a living organisms...
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...Women and P.T.S.D 1 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Women Women and Their Risk for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 8 Oct 2012 PSY 121 Dr. Hornstein Women and P.T.S.D 2 Abstract This paper will explain the causes, symptoms, and treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as it relates to women. A multitude of studies were done showing the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in men but recent studies show the severity of the psychiatric disorder on women. Researchers have found that non-combat veteran females had higher levels of PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide) than patients without the psychiatric disorder and none in men.(2) Women and P.T.S.D. 3 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.) is a serious condition that can develop after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic or terrifying event in which serious physical harm occurred or was threatened. P.T.S.D. is a real diagnosable disorder, (3) although many health insurance companies refuse to acknowledge it by paying for it. P.T.S.D. is a lasting consequence of traumatic ordeals that cause intense fear, helplessness, or horror. People with P.T.S.D. may suffer flashbacks to the traumatic event, become aggressive, or numb, or withdrawn, have nightmares, and become emotionally numb or even violent. Most people who experience a traumatic event will have reaction that may include shock, anger, nervousness, fear, and even guilt. These reactions...
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...Psychology essay PTSD case study PTSD what is post-traumatic stress disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition of stress which is caused by an event, and now you get flashbacks. Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder which is caused by an event earlier in life that is very stressful or psychologically disturbing. People with this disorder may have flashbacks and relive the event through their nightmares, and they could also have trouble sleeping at night. PTSD happens most often in soldiers and those who have been in the war due to the extreme situations that arise from it. Symptoms, Biological, Mental. The symptoms of PTSD are …. The biological symptoms of PTSD are. One of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder is the constant feeling of danger. The symptoms are increased anxiety, experiencing the event again through flashbacks or nightmares. Another symptom is avoidance of things that remind you of the event, being unable to remember some parts of the event, and also loss of interest and feeling detached from others. Memories of the event will be intrusive. The physical symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder are dizziness, shortness of breath also possibly chronic pain and tightness in the chest. A common symptom is a feeling of intense fear. Other symptoms are persistent depressive feelings and dissociation. This disorder often coexists with anxiety or eating disorders, or depression. In the case study Andy’s initial symptoms after...
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...Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 3/29/2015 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder A mental illness refers to a group of psychiatric disorders that are characterized by severe disturbances in thought, mood, and behavior. According to Zelman, PhD, Tompary, PharmD, Raymond, PhD, Holdaway, MA, and Mulvihill, PhD (2010) mental illness affects one of every four Americans. The history of post-traumatic stress disorder goes back as long as since there has been any trauma. During the early periods, it was war that caused post-traumatic stress disorder. Signs and symptoms may start within three months from a traumatic event but sometimes it can also take years to develop. Post-traumatic stress disorder can be diagnosed base on signs and symptoms as well as psychological evaluation. Treatment for post traumatic disorder is psychotherapy but also includes medication. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can affect individuals who have been exposed to an overwhelming traumatic incident such as the events of Hurricane Katrina, war, and or encounters of trauma such as rape, violence or child abuse. Throughout the history of post-traumatic stress disorder, it was not recognized as a disorder until 1980 in the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) (Zagata, 2010). In the earlier periods, post-traumatic stress disorder was limited to war experiences. During the American Civil War, many physicians in the military experienced emotionally behaviors to stress and fear of battle...
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...Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Survivors of sexual assault may experience severe feelings of anxiety, stress or fear, known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as a direct result of the assault. Substance Abuse Victims of rape or sexual assault may turn to alcohol or other substances in an attempt to relieve their emotional suffering. Self-Harm / Self-Injury Deliberate self-harm, or self-injury, is when a person inflicts physical harm on himself or herself. Stockholm Syndrome Described as a victim’s emotional “bonding” with their abuser, Stockholm Syndrome develops subconsciously and on an involuntary basis. Depression There are many emotional and psychological reactions that victims of rape and sexual assault can experience. One of the most common of these is depression. Sexually Transmitted Infections Table of Sexually Transmitted Infections, their symptoms, treatment, and possible complications. Pregnancy If you were recently raped, you may have concerns about becoming pregnant from the attack. If the rape happened a long time ago, you may have concerns about a pregnancy that resulted from the attack. Flashbacks A flashback is when memories of past traumas feel as if they are taking place in the current moment. Borderline Personality Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder, known as BPD, is one of many possible long-term effects of childhood sexual abuse. Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Assault The long term effects on survivors...
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...POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN WAR VETERANS SC-PNG-0000009299 Alwin Aanand Thomson American Degree Program SEGi College Penang 1.0 INTRODUCTION Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one's own or someone else's physical, sexual, or psychological integrity, overwhelming the individual's ability to cope. As an effect of psychological trauma, PTSD is less frequent and more enduring than the more commonly seen acute stress response. Diagnostic symptoms for PTSD include re-experiencing the original trauma(s) through flashbacks or nightmares, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, and increased arousal—such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, anger, and hyper vigilance. Formal diagnostic criteria in DSM-IV-TR require that the symptoms last more than one month and cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (American Psychological Association). 2.0 DIAGNOSIS Criteria The diagnostic criteria for PTSD, stipulated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (Text Revision) (DSM-IV-TR), may be summarized as: A: Exposure to a traumatic event This must have involved both (a)...
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...The term post- traumatic stress disorder come around the 1970’s, so the term shell shock was created to express the psychological or physical injuries for the soldier and veterans. Most people believed post-traumatic stress disorder was only temporary; however, post-traumatic stress disorder does not just disappear overnight, and in most cases, shell shock can be permeant, especially in Septimus’ case. Septimus; pain and suffering leaded him to commit suicide, so he could escape his horror. The critic Bruce Dohrenwend exposed the psychological risks of the people, who was in the war. Some of the soldiers got post-traumatic stress disorder right after war, but studies show post-traumatic stress disorder can develop elven or twelve years after...
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...Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a complex mental health disorder with poor treatment outcome. While the majority of the population will be exposed to some form of trauma throughout their lifetime only a fraction will actually go on to develop the disorder (Kessler et. Al, 1995). This has lead many researchers to devote their time to the analysis of pre-trauma factors such as individual characteristics (e.g intelligence) as a means of identifying personal vulnerability for the development of PTSD. However, with the exception of female gender, pre-trauma variables are for the most part associated with an individual's risk of exposure and have been shown to have substantially less predictive power regarding who's actually at risk for developing PTSD following trauma (Bromet 1998). Therefore, peri-traumatic factors such as the nature of the trauma and dissociative symptoms currently remain the most successful predictors in relation to the onset and duration of PTSD at our disposal (Ozer et al. 2003). Continued research of trauma severity and dissociative symptoms as well as further investigation into how these two factors interact to predict PTSD is necessary to further our understanding of the disorder and improve treatment methods. It has been known for some time that the severity of a traumatic event is a robust predictor for PTSD (Birmes et. Al, 2003). While there is no universal measure of trauma severity, factors like perceived life threat, duration of the event...
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...dimensions of treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) through Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR will be analysed in terms of its clinical efficacy and practical effectiveness utilizing extensive outcome literature and research. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a trauma and stressor related psychiatric condition that occurs through exposure to isolated or multiple traumatic events (Lake, 2012). Traumatic events mainly encompass direct or by proxy exposure to death, serious injury or sexual violation, such as sexual assault, car accidents, warfare, or natural disasters (Barlow & Durand, 2015). Symptoms The symptoms of PTSD...
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...Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sean C. Hall Colorado Technical University In recent years, the United States Armed Forces has become increasingly alarmed at the growing problem of severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), resulting in the increased rate of suicides in their troops. While most agree that PTSD deserves attention, consensus dissolves around how to effectively respond to the problem. In 2008, the Us Army commissioned the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) on behalf of their soldiers; in an effort to better understand and maximize treatment for soldiers diagnosed with sever Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Vietnam veterans are particularly vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder. Thousands of the 600,000 Americans who served in that war still suffer feelings of alienation, sleeping problems, relieving of painful experiences, and difficulty concentrating. Most veterans do not suffer from the disorder; of those who do, many did not experience symptoms until months or even years after their return home. Those who suffer from the disorder seem more likely to have other stressful events in their lives, which in turn make the disorder seem worse. The wounds of war do not go away with time, or just by leaving them alone. They need to be addressed, and this is something that you cannot do alone. If you were wounded physically during combat, you would allow a medic to attend to the wound. This is no different. Your psychological wounds must be attended...
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