POST TRAUMATIC STRESS

DISORDER
"Surprise!"
A trauma and stress related disorder that may develop after exposure to
an event or ordeal in which death, severe physical harm or violence occurred or
was threatened. 
 Symptoms of PTSD
Repetitive Memories of Reexperiencing
trauma

Avoidance of talk of trauma. Anger Outbursts

Avoidance of trauma
recollections.
Nightmares Distress at exposure to
similar stimuli.
Restricted Affect.
Regressive behavior. Hypervigilance. Sleep
Detachment. Disturbance.
Startle Responses.
 Jared is a 36-year old married veteran who had returned from
Afghanistan, where he had served as an officer. He was raised in a
loving family that struggled to make ends meet as Midwestern
farmers. At age 20 he joined the U.S. Army and deployed to
He went toHe
Afghanistan. the Veteranshimself
described Affairs as
outpatient mental
having been health
upbeat clinic
and happy
complaining of having “a short
before his fuse”
army and being “easily triggered.”
service.
Jared's symptoms involved out-of-control rage when startled, constant
thoughts and memories of death-related events, weekly vivid
nightmares of combat that caused trouble sleeping, anxiety and a loss
Jared wasof interest
most in hobbies
worried about hishe once enjoyed with friends.
“hair-trigger
extreme anger.
Cursing at strangers who stood too close in temper”“Attack mode”
checkout
He kept linesin his car for self-protection
a handgun
He had deep remorse after a threatening incident and worried that he
might accidently hurt someone.
These moments reminded him of a time in the military when he was
on guard at the front gate. While he was dozing, an enemy mortar
round stunned him into action.
Diagnostic Criteria
“PTSD or just anxiety?”
Diagnostic Criteria - DSM V

Exposure to actual Presence of

or threatened intrusive symptoms
death, serious associated with the
injury, or sexual traumatic events
violence
Negative Persistent
alterations in avoidance of things
Cognitive aspect related with the
and Moods. event
Disturbance causes
Duration of
significant
Disturbance
More than a month distress/impairment on
social,
occupational and other
 Types of PTSD

• Normal Stress Response

• Acute Stress Disorder

A.K.A. Disorder of by
Extreme Stress. Usually
Characterized
Involves
More persistent
common. panic reactions,
reexperiencing
Usually the present
ofconfusion,
event.
associated with atleast
A single
among individual
individuals who have
exposed to been exposed
prolonged to a single
traumatic
dissociation,
Avoidance
one major insomnia
of and
things
mental being
that unable
may
disorder, like to
represent manage
depression, the self,
traumatic event
circumstances, in adulthood.
especially Experiences
during childhood, intense
suchofasbad
• Uncomplicated trauma.
substance work
Emotional
abuse, and
numbingrelationship.
and/or
panic disorder may
and consist
anxiety
PTSDsexual memories,
abuse.
Trauma usually
emotional
These
consist
symptoms of of
numbling
individuals
death,
increased are and
often
destruction
arousal.
distress.
diagnosed
or loss of
disorder.
with borderline home
or antisocial personality disorder or
due to tragedy.
dissociative disorders.
• Comorbid PTSD

• Complex PTSD
Diagnostic Criteria
“PTSD or just anxiety?”
 Treatments
Therapies, Exposure and
Medicines

Therapy Exposure Medicines

Cognitive Prolonged Selective

Behavioral Exposure Therapy. Serotonin
Therapy. Characterized by Reuptake
Considered the two main Inhibitors. (SSRIs)
most effective way procedures. (eg. Prozac and
of treating PTSD. Imaginative and In Paxil)
Vivo. Relieves severe
anxiety and panic
attacks.