Diagnostic Statistical Manual

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Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Liberty University Elizabeth Wilkie August 7, 2012 Abstract Post-traumatic Stress Disorder is identified by an accumulation of many symptoms. These symptoms have roots in experiencing a traumatic event. Some traumatic events are rape, natural disasters, war trauma, abuse, and violent crimes. The symptoms listed in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual for the diagnosis of PTSD are hyper arousal, avoidance, intrusive trauma associated memories, memory deficits and attention deficits. Treatment options allow the client to use individual treatment methods. There is also evidence that clients who help in choosing their treatment methods have more success in recovery. A significant portion of the research…show more content…
PTSD is commonly found among, soldiers that saw combat, car accident victims, those who experience sexual abuse, victims of natural disasters, and people who are victims of or witnessed violent crimes. PTSD is also seen among rape victims, kidnapped victims, victims of incest, hijacking, cult abuse, and terrorism (Schiraldi 2009). In this anxiety disorder where the victim fears a possible threat, often resulting in hyper arousal (Alden, Lapos, Et al).The current diagnostic statistical manual sets the guidelines for the diagnosis. To be diagnosed with PTSD, the victim must have experienced all of the following: a traumatic event and the victim must find themselves reliving the event through dreams, flashbacks or expressive play. The victim must then show signs of avoidance socially, to their thoughts, inability to recall information about the event, and/or restricted views of their future. Most often victims of PTSD have difficulty falling asleep do to hyper arousal, high anxiety, irritability, and are easily startled. These symptoms must last for at least a month and must greatly impact the victims’ life thru distress, social impairment, or other significant parts of their lives (Schiraldi…show more content…
These symptoms are event re-experiencing, arousal and avoidance/numbing. To re-experience an event, is described as ‘intrusive recollection’ through thoughts, images or awareness. These intrusions are always unwelcomed, painful and uncontrollable (Schiraldi 2009). These experiences begin with a trigger. A trigger is anything that reminds the victim of the traumatic event. For example a war veteran who served in Iraq may see a sand blowing through the air and begin to have flashback to the time when they conducted a mission and lost many fellow soldiers during a sand storm. Or a war veteran may be triggered by a smell, sound or feeling. Sexually abused victims may triggered by the smell of bodily fluids or physical touch. At times, PTSD victims are unaware of their triggers or are unable to take note of the trigger before re-experiencing an event (Schiraldi 2009). Triggers directly affect the brain, no matter what the trigger may be. The thalamus in the brain is in charge of the senses such as, sight, touch and smell. This information is passed from thalamus to the cortex where the memories are stored. The brain will then respond either negatively or positively to the stimulus. Information is then sent back to the thalamus and hypothalamus. The hippocampus then responds to the emotional level by sending hormone signals that are referred to the parts of the body that control the behavior. In other words, a loud
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