POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Amr Ellaithy

LEARNING OUTCOMES1. What is PTSD???2. Who is at risk for PTSD???3. When does PTSD start???&

How long does it last???4. Symptoms5. Consequences

Physiological outcomes Psychological outcomes Self-destructive behaviors

6. Treatment Psychotherapy Pharmacotherapy

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that develops in response to a stressful event or situation of exceptionally threatening or catastrophic nature

What is PTSD?

Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include: violent personal assaults

Sexual assault Physical attack Abuse Stabbing

natural disastersAccidentsMilitary combat.

Traumatic events

WHO IS AT RISK?

Every One!!!

People with military combat experience or civilians who have been harmed by war

People who have been raped, sexually abused, or physically abused

People who have been involved in or who have witnessed a life-threatening event

People who have been involved in a natural disaster, such as a tornado or an earthquake

Who is at risk for PTSD??

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of PTSD can start after a delay of weeks, or even months. They usually appear within 3 months after the traumatic event.

Some people get better within 6 months. Others may have the illness for much longer.

When does PTSD start??& How long does it last???

Re-experiencing the event through flashbacks or nightmares

Avoiding people, places or thoughts that bring back memories of the trauma

Feeling angry & unable to trust people Social withdrawal Numbness Insomnia Lack of concentration

Symptoms

CONSEQUENCES1)Physiological outcomes2)Psychological outcomes

3)Self-destructive behaviors

Neurobiological changes (alterations in brainwave activity and in functioning of processes such as memory and fear response)

Psychophysiological changes Hyper-arousal of the sympathetic nervous system, Sleep disturbances Increased neurohormonal changes that result in

increased stress & depression Headache Stomach or digestive problems Dizziness

1)Physiological outcomes

Depression Other anxiety disorders (such as

phobias, panic, and social anxiety) Splitting off from the present Eating disorders

2)Psychological outcomes

Low self esteem Alcohol and drug abuse Suicidal attempts Self-injury Risky sexual behaviors

leading to unplanned pregnancy or STDs, including HIV

3)Self-destructive behaviors

TREATMENT

PTSD is treated by a variety of forms of psychotherapy (talk therapy) and pharmacotherapy (medication).

There is no single best treatment, but some treatments are quite promising, especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Treatment

COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT)

A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapy based on modifying beliefs and behaviors, with the aim of influencing disturbed emotions.

CBT includes a number of techniques such as:

I. Cognitive restructuring

II. Exposure therapy

III. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

Cognitive restructuring aims at replacing dysfunctional thoughts with more realistic & helpful ones.e.g.

“I’ll never be normal again..I am gonna die”“I’ll get better..It will just take time”Or “I feel scared..But I am safe”

I. Cognitive Restructuring

In exposure therapy your goal is to have less fear about your memories.

By talking about your trauma repeatedly with your therapist, you'll learn to get control of your thoughts and feelings about the trauma.

You'll learn that you do not have to be afraid of your memories anymore.

II. Exposure Therapy

EMDR is a new therapy for PTSD. In EMDR, patients are instructed to focus on the

traumatic memory while they visually track something that is moving from side to side (such as the therapist’s finger).

Thus, the therapist supplies positive emotional beliefs to replace the negative ones.

III. EMDR

MEDICATION The use of medication in

addition to psychotherapy has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of PTSD.

The most widely used drug treatments for PTSD are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac & Zoloft

N.B. Drug trials for PTSD are still at a very early stage