...Pharmacological Treatment of PTSD Karen Newkirk HHS 460 Research Methods in Health and Human Services (CGL1423A) Christian Funk June 23,2014 Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder is an anxiety disorder, characterized by a persistant feeling of tension and an avoidance of a traumatic event or events . These three symptoms anxiety , tension ,and avoidance are used as targets for pharmacological interventions. Pharmacological treatment is difficult by the fact that PTSD is often associated with other disorders such as depression, alcoholism , and substance abuse . It is also associated with marital ,occupational , financial and other health problems. Research suggests that SSRIs are the first line of treatment for this disorder . There have been a majority of empirical studies with SSRIs ,and although a variety of SSRIs are used ,only Zoloft and Paxil have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of PTSD . PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans ,but it can result from other traumatic events such as rape , torture ,kidnapping , held captive , car accidents , or even natural disasters such as torandoes , earthquakes ,or floods . There are many causes of PTSD ,but scientists are focusing on genes that play a role in creating fear memories . Understanding how fear memories are created may help or find new interventions for reducing...
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...The association of Trauma and Somatic symptoms: the efficacy of Somatic Psychotherapy Review Literature The goal of this literature is to investigate the efficacy of utilizing Somatic Therapy for deeper understanding, and better treatment, of trauma impact, through the association of somatic symptoms with trauma exposure. A biopsychosocial perspective of conceptualizing the impact of trauma on individuals would contribute to a new perspective of this association with somatic symptoms- specifically ones that do not have identifiable medical pathology. The Association between past Traumatic events and later manifested Somatic Symptoms In an earlier review of the relationship between medical symptoms- without identified pathology- and psychiatric...
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...The topic I have chosen for my research paper is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that develops in a person after an extremely traumatic event. These traumatic events can range from being in a war or in a crime to even an accident. In 1980 the American Psychological Association (APA) added PTSD to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, which was also known as DSM-III. PTSD has had many different names over the years; in 1905 the Russians called it “Battle Shock”, during WWI it was called “shell shock”, Freud called it “war neurosis”, then during WWII the term changed to “combat exhaustion”, and in 1952 DSM-I called it “Gross stress reaction”,...
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...While screening measures are invaluable when assessing for trauma, as they investigate symptoms, symptom severity, traumatic experiences, etc., it is also necessary to be aware of common symptoms, especially when working with a specific population (i.e., Vietnam veterans). Although Holloway and Ursano (1984) conducted this study to better understand the role of memory, as well as the importance of metaphors and social contextual factors in memory, the case studies presented were discussed in the current literature review because they described and clarified common symptoms within this population. The first case study featured an individual who served as a sniper during the Vietnam war, and subsequently experienced disability, secondary to dissociation, which presented itself in the form of dreams and intrusive thoughts (Holloway & Ursano, 1984). Specifically, individual dissociated and found himself playing the role of this sniper, similarly to his role in Vietnam (Holloway & Ursano, 1984). He expressed feeling an enormous amount of guilt as the result of these experiences....
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...We evaluate soldier’s medical diagnoses and process cases for medical discharge. Over the years I have counseling numerous mental health patients that are returning from deployment. Our goal is to advise and refer soldiers and family members to the appropriate sources to include, Social Work Service. Cases with extreme mental disability are soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with major sleep disorders. The problem is regardless of the psychotherapy and medication the soldiers are given they continue to have extreme nightmares of death and fear. Soldier that are diagnose with PTSD normally gets two to four hours of sleep a night. Beginning with the first step in the research process is to identifying the problem. Our dilemma was soldier Behavioral Health Care beyond Army life. Data was gathered from our Mental Health Department and Traumatic Brain Injury database. After we identify the problem a Case Review Committee meeting was conducted with the hospital Behavioral Health Providers to discuss and analyze the gathered data. The outcome was to set up a Case Review Committee with department heads at the local VA hospital that cares for soldier mental health care after the Army. In Collaboration with doctors and the Veteran Military Coordinators at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare...
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...million people each year,” (Valente, 2010). PTSD effects more women than, with approximately 58% of at risk individuals including combat veterans. If left untreated, PTSD leaves those affected with quality of life issues, social interactions, daily functioning, and psychological issues. Over the years, there has been an increase in the awareness of post traumatic stress, and the impact of its diagnosis, (Bastien, 2010). Treatment relies on a multidimensional approach, including supportive patient education, cognitive therapy, and psychopharmacology. This paper will review PTSD, including clinical manifestations, diagnosis, medical and nursing management and community resources available to those affected by this disease. Description of Disease “Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder with a sustained and dysfunctional emotional reaction to a traumatic event, threat of injury or death, and pain,” (Valente, 2010). A traumatic event can be military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault. Most people who are exposed to a traumatic event will have stress reactions for the immediate days or weeks following the incident, however with some time will be able to deal with the event and return to normal. However, some people will have stress reactions that do not go away on their own and may even worsen with time. These individuals are at risk for developing PTSD. Post traumatic stress disorder became...
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...Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological condition where the patients generally have trouble to function normally in their daily lives and social context which involves both intrapersonal and interpersonal interactions (J. Cukor et al, 2009). This kind of anxiety disorder often occurs to people who experiences traumatic events such as sexual assault, rape, tragic death of loved one, war, or natural disaster causing them to have symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, high level of arousal, emotionally numb, and avoidance of triggering stimuli (Schnurr et al, 2007). The nature of PTSD’s symptoms is causing distress to the patient and usually render them unable to have a normal life pre-tragic event. This has become a concern...
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...Affects of Multiple Deployments on Military Service Members and Families during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF): Time Period 2001-2012 Gina Pagano-Briglin, MSW University of the Incarnate Word 3 December 2012 I. Introduction Since September 11, 2001, there have been significant changes in the security measures of air travel, financial security, but one of the most significant changes is that of military operations. The United States began combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan on October 7, 2001 in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks officially referred to as Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Since October 2001, about 1.9 million service members have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq (Asbury & Martin, 2011). OEF/OIF has many unique features with regard to the military forces being sent to fight oversees. The all-volunteer military has experienced multiple deployments to the combat areas, with an increased use of the National Guard and Reserve Components, higher numbers of deployed women and parents of young children, and increases in the number of service members surviving severe injuries and other side effects from combat (Shaw & Hector, 2010). Service members may be subjected to more than one deployment. Studies show that overall about 40% of current military service members have been deployed more than once, with over one quarter serving...
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...Movie Review We Were Soldiers Burt Thomas Liberty University CRIS303 – B01 Movie Review We Were Soldiers We Were Soldiers is a movie written and directed by Randall White. It is based on a book, We Were Soldiers Once…and Young: Ia Drang, the Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam by Lt. Col. Hal Moore and Joe Galloway. It details the account of both men, as well as the men under Moore’s command during the battle of the Ia Drang Valley. The battle takes place early in the Viet Nam War and the movie provides a historical, as well as dramatic recount of the battle and the lives of the men who fought it. Movie Synopsis A narrator begins the movie by retelling the story of the French involvement in the early days of the Viet Nam War. There is a graphic depiction of violence as the French soldiers are killed, and the viewer is briefly introduced to Lt. Col. Nguyen Huu An. Lt. Col An would later command the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers during the battle with Moore’s soldiers. Eleven years later, the army is establishing an air cavalry division and Lt. Col. Moore is selected to command them. Mel Gibson, in the role of Lt. Col. Moore enlists the help of Maj. Bruce “Snake” Crandall, played by Greg Kinnear. Crandall’s crew of pilots is made up of a motley group of men and his pilots and equipment are considered to be some of the best in the Army at the time. The division is redesignated as the 7th Cavalry, and Moore notes the irony in its designation - this is the same...
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...examined has to do with active duty soldiers and their PTSD that they encountered while on active duty. The issue being examined also has to do with treatment during or after active duty. This is significant due to the effects of PTSD on soldiers and in order to determine if PTSD can be slowed before it reaches its peak or if soldiers should wait until they are no longer serving to seek treatment. According to Winter (2009), “Hotopf assessed a large probability sample of initial invasion troops from the UK with diverse roles in OIF 1-2 years post deployment and compared their PTSD rates with non-deployed troops. Using the PCL, they found relatively low and comparable rates of probable PTSD (4%). Subsets that subsequently deployed during the OIF insurgency war did not have higher rates. By contrast, PCL-based probable PTSD rates were appreciably lower among the non-deployed service member”. The reason behind recording this information is because it is crucial in determining whether or not soldiers should receive treatment for PTSD during or after active duty. There have been many tests done finding results of PTSD in active/non active duty soldiers. Those results rank higher when it comes to PTSD being much more of an issue for active duty servicemen. Therefore, making PTSD a point of interest when it comes to treating it promptly and not waiting until the soldiers become inactive or non-deployed. Review of Literature PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a disorder that occurs...
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...Clin Soc Work J (2014) 42:323–335 DOI 10.1007/s10615-014-0496-z ORIGINAL PAPER Trauma Through the Life Cycle: A Review of Current Literature Shulamith Lala Ashenberg Straussner Alexandrea Josephine Calnan • Highlight every key term that refers to the following key concepts: 1) "trauma" generally a) "large T trauma" b) "micro-trauma" 2) "resilience" Published online: 31 May 2014 Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014 Abstract This paper provides an overview of common traumatic events and responses, with a specific focus on the life cycle. It identifies selected ‘‘large T’’ and ‘‘micro’’ traumas encountered during childhood, adulthood and late life, and the concept of resilience. It also identifies the differences in traumatic events and reactions experienced by men compared to women, those related to the experience of immigration, and cross generational transmission of trauma. Descriptions of empirically-supported treatment approaches of traumatized individuals at the different stages of the life cycle are offered. Keywords PTSD Á Large-T and micro-traumas Á Neurobiology Á Gender differences Á Immigrants Á Treatment approaches The past is never dead. It’s not even past. William Faulkner The conflict between the will to deny horrible events and the will to proclaim them aloud is the central dialectic of psychological trauma. Judith Lewis Herman S. L. A. Straussner (&) Silver School of Social Work, New York University, 1 Washington...
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...also be effective on the inpatient treatment of abused-related traumas and that “intensive treatment of psychopathological trauma may be destabilized” (395). People like Harper believes that practice guidelines can help treat clients with PTSD (362), while Wright inclines that there are studies that have been tended to examine psychopathology and general well-beings rather than having researched for PTSD (395). The study that attempts to answer is whether group programs are efficient in reducing PTSD symptoms in adults who have been abused in their childhood year. They use a program called Program for Traumatic Stress Recover (PTSR) where there are 28 beds, and is a 6-week inpatient program that can organize the lives of the survivors of the abused victims through affecting human thoughts, feelings and behaviors (Wright et al. 2003, 397). Their main goals is to “promote empowerment for the survivors and fostering the development of new community ties and connections” and their recovery is lead to three stages: “the establishment of safety, remembrance and mourning, and reconnection with ordinary life” (Wright et al. 2003, 396). Wright describes on page 396 that this program (PTSR) is expected to be effective in helping clients who have PTSD who had been abused through their sessions of group therapy and is hoping to build a strong sense of communities. The group therapy gathers these survivors with each other to demonstrate that there are many people out there that struggles just...
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...between Anna and Ivan in bed at night. She comes to him when “he called out to his mother in a dream” (Grossman 115) – she comes to Ivan when he is in despair – and stays with him throughout the night; they lie in bed together, without regard to time, sharing their painful memories and understanding each other. Grossman uses a confession and a characteristic of a memoir to illustrate the redemption of Anna, how life continues to move on, and the idea that the past cannot be forgotten. Anna Sergeyevna suffers from her guilt of deporting the kulaks and perpetuating the Ukrainian famine. Anna is a victim of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD), a mental disorder that results when the level of stress from trauma and grief become too much (“PTSD”), because she is permanently scarred from her time as a chairman of a collective farm. She clearly has PTSD because she “doesn’t want to remember it – it’s too painful [for her] – but it’s...
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...Abstract There are a compilation of many years of empirical evidence that has sought to diagnosis and treat stress and the extreme forms it. The evidence which has, persistently, perplexed scientists are the common stress reactions that are experience by normal functioning people and by those who are, actually, diagnosed with stress disorders. This research will examine acute stress response as it relates to all people who experience trauma or emotional events. The evidence brought forth by this research will define acute stress reaction and acute stress disorder, list the symptoms, and describe the differences between the two. The diagnosing criteria as described by the DSM-IV will be described, as well the history of its inclusion. This study will, also, compare and contrast different available treatments for acute stress disorder and the prevention of the disorder. Finally, a look into the necessary components needed to help people cope with the effects of trauma, will be examined from a professional and spiritual perspective. Keywords: Stress, acute-stress reaction, acute-stress disorder, trauma, treatment, prevention. Acute Stress Response: The Reaction and Disorder When people experience traumatic or emotionally taxing events, there is much to be said concerning what happens when people aren’t treated for the short term and long term effects of these traumatic circumstances. However, in more recent years, evidence points to a series of normal effects...
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...these additional claims; and (c) Providing medical care and disability compensation benefits to the Soldiers returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan can cost anywhere from $400 - $900 billion depending on the type of care required, how quickly they file their claims, and the growth rate of those benefits. The recommendations that need to be considered include: increasing the staff as well as the budget for Veterans Medical Centers especially those that specialize in mental health treatment; restructure the claims process and increase staffing to help speed the process to get Veterans claims to them more expeditiously. Cost/ Benefit Analysis of Providing Medical Care to Soldiers Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan-PTSD and TBI MSA 685 Project Report Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science in Administration (Concentration in General Administration) By Ronnie E....
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