Acute Stress Disorder

by Lilia Grenier Psychology

What is Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)?

ASD is an anxiety disorder characterized by a group

of dissociative and anxiety symptoms that occur within a month of a traumatic event.
Traumatic events include: witnessing or experiencing

rape or other violent assaults; death, suffered a severe injury or natural disaster, or a severe transport accidents.
The person's response involves intense fear,

guiltiness, helplessness, or horror.

What are the differences between ASD and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
ASD and PTSD are both disorders that can occur following a

traumatic event.
ASD can be diagnosed between 2 days and 4 weeks after

exposure, where PTSD can only be diagnosed after 4 weeks have passed.
In addition to the symptoms experienced in PTSD, ASD includes

symptoms of dissociation.
If left untreated, ASD is likely to advance into PTSD.

Symptoms:
Dissociative symptoms Less aware of surroundings Feeling numb or detached Derealization Depersonalization Dissociative amnesia

Re-experiencing symptoms

Dreams Illusions Flashback Intense distress

Other symptoms that indicate ASD

Sleeping problems Difficulty concentrating Irritability Inability to do necessary tasks including seeking help Feeling detached from others

Motor restlessness
Avoiding people or places that remind him/her about the event

Diagnosis
ASD is diagnosed by:
comparing the patient's symptoms to the DSM-IV and

DSM-IV-TR criteria
using the Acute Stress Disorder Scale

Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder

Medications Psychotherapy

Alternative and complementary

treatments

Medications
Prescribed antidepressants:

Sertraline Paroxetine Fluvoxamine Citalopram Clomipramine

For avoidance symptoms

Fluoxetine

Medications
To reduce anxiety and panic

Alprazolam Diazepam Clonazepam Lorazepam Propanol Trazodone Topiramate

For insomnia and nightmares

Psychotherapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Gestalt Therapy Psychoanalityc Rational-Emotive Therapy Behavior Therapy Group and Family Therapies Therapeutic Writing

Alternative and complementary treatments

Yoga

Meditation
Music Therapy Hypnosis Hydrotherapy Traditional Chinese Medicine Critical Incident Stress Management Program

Prognosis
80% of people diagnosed with ASD have PTSD six

months later; 75% will develop symptoms of PTSD two years from the traumatic event.
Clinicians in Norway created a list of symptoms that

appear to be an efficient prognosis of ASD's developing into PTSD:

An exagerated startle response Fear or phobia affiliated to the location of the traumatic event The extent of patient's social withdrawal The severity of the patient's sleep disturbance

The effect of ASD on daily living

Physical well-being Thoughts of suicide Drug and alchool abuse Isolation from family and friends Difficulty functioning at work

Impact on the childs school work

Symptoms and Diagnosis for children with ASD

Signs and symptoms include emotional numbing, social

avoidance, sleep problems, school and play failure, delayed development.

Untreated acute stress in children develops into chronic PTSD,

other serious psychiatric disorders, and/or developmental cardiac arrest complications.

The Child Stress Reaction Checklist (CSRC) is used by parents

and the nurse to identify the symptoms of ASD.

The Child Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index is

also used to measure ASD responses.

Treatment for children with ASD

Antidepressants:

Imipramine
Chloral hydrate

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Adjunctive Therapies
Family-Based Treatments Group Therapy

References:
Jonker, Barbara,Acute stress disorder in children related to violence. Journal of Child adolescence Psychiatric Nursing. Apr.-Jan.2003. 25 Nov.2009. <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3892/is_200304/ai_n9197654/pg _5/?tag=content;col1>. Tull, Matthew, Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD. About.com: Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD). 25 Nov.2009. <http://ptsd.about.com/od/causesanddevelopment/a/acutestress.htm> Gibson, Laura E, Acute Strees Disorder: A brief description. Mental Health Matters. 26 Feb. 2009. 25 Nov.2009. <http://www.mental-healthmatters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1218:acut e-stress-disorder-a-brief-description&catid=44:acute-stressdisorder&Itemid=2045>. Acute stress disorder. PsychNet-UK. 25 Nov.2009. < http://www.psychnet-uk.com/dsm_iv/acute_stress_disorder.htm>.

Reference cont
Acute stress disorder. Encyclopedia of Medical Disorders. 25 Nov.2009 . <http://www.minddisorders.com/A-Br/Acute-stressdisorder.html>. Definition of acute stress disorder. MedicineNet.com-We bring doctors knowledge to you. 9 Feb. 2004 25 Nov.2009. <http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=38856> Acute stress reaction. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 22 Nov.2009 25 Nov.2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_stress_reaction> Jackson, Henry M, Guide to understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder. Advancement of military medicine. 25 Nov.2009. <http://www.virtualarmory.com/mobiledeploy/PDHRA/docs/W50258PTS D%20brochure.pdf>