PTSDPOST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

BY: ELENA CHRISTELLE B. TOLENTINO

▪ is an anxiety disorder characterized by reliving a psychologically

traumatic situation, long after any physical danger involved has

passed, through flashbacks and nightmares.

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

▪ Genes

▪ Brain Areas

▪ Traumatic events

▪ Other risk factors

CAUSES

▪ War

▪ Natural disasters

▪ Car or plane crashes

▪ Terrorist attacks

▪ Sudden death of a loved one

▪ Rape

▪ Kidnapping

▪ Assault

▪ Sexual or physical abuse

▪ Childhood neglect

CAUSES

▪ Previous traumatic experiences, especially in early life

▪ History of substance abuse

▪ History of depression, anxiety, or another mental illness

▪ Witnessing violent deaths

▪ Being held hostage

▪ High level of stress in everyday life

▪ Lack of support after the trauma

▪ Lack of coping skills

CAUSES

▪ Re-experiencing symptoms

▪ Avoidance symptoms

▪ Hyperarousal symptoms

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

▪ Re-experiencing symptoms– may cause problems in a person’s everyday routine. They

can start from the person’s own thoughts and feelings. Words, objects, or situations that are reminders of the event can also trigger re-experiencing.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

▪ Avoidance symptoms– Things that remind a person of the traumatic event can

trigger avoidance symptoms. These symptoms may cause a person to change his or her personal routine. For example, after a bad car accident, a person who usually drives may avoid driving or riding in a car.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

▪ Hyperarousal symptoms– Hyperarousal symptoms are usually constant, instead of

being triggered by things that remind one of the traumatic event. They can make the person feel stressed and angry. These symptoms may make it hard to do daily tasks, such as sleeping, eating, or concentrating.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

▪ It can occur at any age, including childhood. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, and there is some evidence that susceptibility to the disorder may run in families.

▪ Anyone can get PTSD at any age. This includes war veterans and survivors of physical and sexual assault, abuse, accidents, disasters, and many other serious events.

▪ Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Some people get PTSD after a friend or family member experiences danger or is harmed. The sudden, unexpected death of a loved one can also cause PTSD.

WHO IS AT RISK?

▪ To be diagnosed with PTSD, a person must have all of the following for at least 1 month:▪ At least one re-experiencing symptom▪ At least three avoidance symptoms▪ At least two hyperarousal symptoms

▪ Symptoms that make it hard to go about daily life, go to school or work, be with friends, and take care of important tasks.

▪ PTSD is often accompanied by depression, substance abuse, or one or more of the other anxiety disorders.

DIAGNOSIS

TREATMENTS

PSYCHOTHERAPY MEDICATIONS OTHER MEDICATIONS

• Exposure therapy • Sertraline (Zoloft) • Benzodiazepines

• Cognitive restructuring • Paroxetine (Paxil) • Antipsychotics

• Stress inoculation training • Other antidepressants

• Family therapy