Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

A disorder in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.

The condition may last months or years, with triggers that can bring back memories of the trauma accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions.

Symptoms may include nightmares or unwanted memories of the trauma, avoidance of situations that bring back memories of the trauma, heightened reactions, anxiety, or depressed mood.

Treatment includes different types of trauma-focused psychotherapy as well as medications to manage symptoms.

Cluster Number:
Wiki Number: PW173
Diagnosis: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
US Patients: 3.5% in a given year; 3.9% over a life-time;
World Patients: Much higher where wars have occurred.
Sex Ratio: M;W+. After rape, about 19% develop PTSD
Age Onset: less likel to develop PTSD if traumatic event occurs before age 10;
Brain Area: women with smaller hippocampi; more norepinephrine; brain shrinkage, but hyperactive amygdala.
Symptoms: after a traumatic event, thoughts, dreams, mental or physical distress, changes in thought, increased fight-flight, self-harm, suicide
Progression: intrusive, recurrent recollections, flashbacks, and nightmares; depression, anxiety and mood disordersl drug or alcohol abuse
Causes: previous rape or child abuse; war, refugee status; death of a loved one; cancer, heart attack, stroke;child in chronic illness’s parents
Medications: antidepresssants and SSRI’s help 50%;
Therapies: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing helped 50% in children and adolescents.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE

Youtube Video: 3 Ways to Manage PTSD Triggers

Amazon or Library Book: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Workbook

Click the book to link or order from Amazon.

Support Group: samhsa.gov; 800-662-4357

(U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)

Contact your local Social Security office for possible Disability Benefits through their Disability Determination Services,

Section 12.15.

4 CURRENT ARTICLES
FROM PUBMED

The world-wide medical research
reports chosen for each diagnosis

Clicking each title opens the
PubMed article’s summary-abstract.

The Moderating Role of Demoralization on the Association Between Exposure to War and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among Israeli Civilians in Reaction to the October 7 War: A Longitudinal Study
by Wafaa Sowan on December 3, 2024
CONCLUSION: Demoralization symptoms and PTSS are likely to occur during wartime. However, war exposure alone does not explain PTSS; it is contingent on demoralization levels. Demoralization shortly following the outbreak of war appears to be a predictor of PTSS. This finding suggests that screening for demoralization with a brief simple questionnaire might be a useful clinical tool to identify individuals in the short term who may have increased risk of PTSD in the long term.
Guilt-and Shame-Proneness, Birth-related Post-traumatic Stress and Post-Traumatic Growth in Women with Preterm Birth
by Gabija Jarašiūnaitė-Fedosejeva on December 3, 2024
Mothers of premature infants are at high risk of experiencing birth trauma and poor postpartum mental health. However, for some, this experience can lead to personal growth. This study examines Lithuanian women with preterm births, where birth-related PTSD is notably higher despite a lower preterm birth rate. Given the common emotional responses of guilt and shame, we explore whether proneness to these emotions moderates the relationship between birth-related PTSD and post-traumatic growth. A...
Lived experiences of mothers: A longitudinal study of impacts and adjustment following adolescent psychiatric hospitalization for suicide attempts or other reasons
by David B Goldston on December 3, 2024
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the mental health struggles of mothers of suicidal and other hospitalized youth and underscores the importance of support for caregivers.
Pandemic-Related Stress Increases PTSD and Depression Risk in Traumatic Injury Patients: A Comparative Study of Pre- and Peri-Pandemic Trauma Cases
by Juan Pablo Zapata on December 3, 2024
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the psychological well-being of the general population. However, there are limited studies that examine its mental health effects on patients who have experienced traumatic injuries and tracked their recovery over time. This study aimed to: (1) compare the rates and severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression between patients who sustained traumatic injuries before the COVID-19 pandemic (pre-pandemic) and those injured during the...