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PTSD Montano Reading
PTSD Montano Reading
PTSD Montano Reading
READING Presented To
By:
BSN3B
B. Presence of one (or more) of the following intrusion symptoms associated with the
traumatic event(s), beginning after the traumatic event(s) occurred:
1. Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic
event(s).
Note: In children older than 6 years, repetitive play may occur in which themes or
aspects of the traumatic event(s) are expressed.
2. Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or affect of the dream are
related to the traumatic event(s).
Note: In children, there may be frightening dreams without recognizable content.
3. Dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) in which the individual feels or acts as if
the traumatic event(s) were recurring. (Such reactions may occur on a continuum,
with the most extreme expression being a complete loss of awareness of present
surroundings.)
Note: In children, trauma-specific reenactment may occur in play.
4. Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external
cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
5. Marked physiological reactions to internal or external cues that symbolize or
resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
B. Presence of one (or more) of the following intrusion symptoms associated with the
traumatic event(s), beginning after the traumatic event(s) occurred:
1. Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic
event(s).
Note: Spontaneous and intrusive memories may not necessarily appear distressing
and may be expressed as play reenactment.
2. Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or affect of the dream are
related to the traumatic event(s).
Note: It may not be possible to ascertain that the frightening content is related to
the traumatic event.
3. Dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) in which the child feels or acts as if the
traumatic event(s) were recurring. (Such reactions may occur on a continuum, with
the most extreme expression being a complete loss of awareness of present
surroundings.)
Such trauma-specific reenactment may occur in play.
4. Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external
cues
that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
5. Marked physiological reactions to reminders of the traumatic event(s).
Incidence
The lifetime prevalence of PTSD ranges from 6.1 to 9.2 percent in national
samples of the general adult population in the United States and Canada, with one-
year prevalence rates of 3.5 to 4.7 percent.
Types of PTSD
Uncomplicated PTSD
Uncomplicated PTSD is linked to one major traumatic event, versus multiple events,
and is the easiest form of PTSD to treat. Symptoms of uncomplicated PTSD include:
avoidance of trauma reminders, nightmares, flashbacks to the event, irritability,
mood changes and changes in relationships. Uncomplicated PTSD can be treated
through therapy, medication or a combination of both.
Complex PTSD
Complex PTSD is the opposite of uncomplicated PTSD. It is caused by multiple
traumatic events, not just one. Complex PTSD is common in abuse or domestic
violence cases, repeated exposure to war or community violence, or sudden loss.
While they share the same symptoms, treatment of complex PTSD is a little more
intense than uncomplicated PTSD. Individuals with complex PTSD can be diagnosed
with borderline or antisocial personality disorder or dissociative disorders. They
exhibit behavioral issues, such as impulsivity, aggression, substance abuse or
sexual impulsivity. They can also exhibit extreme emotional issues, such as intense
rage, depression or panic.
Comorbid PTSD
Comorbid PTSD is a blanket term for co-occurring disorders. It is applied when a
person has more than one mental health concern, often coupled with substance
abuse issues. Comorbid PTSD is extremely common, as many people suffer from
more than one condition at a time. Best results are achieved when both the
commingling mental health condition and the comorbid PTSD are treated at the
same time. Many people who suffer from PTSD try to treat it on their own. This can
include self-medication and other destructive behaviors. Using drugs or alcohol as a
way to numb the pain will only make things worse and prolong treatment.
Risk factors
●Gender
●Age at trauma
●Race
●Less education
●Lower socioeconomic status
●Separated, divorced, or widowed
●History of trauma
●General childhood adversity
●Personal and family psychiatric history
●Reported childhood abuse
●Poor social support
●Initial severity of reaction to the traumatic event
Assessment
Patients with possible PTSD should receive a comprehensive psychiatric
assessment. Examples of questions a clinician can ask to elicit symptoms of PTSD
are provided below.
●How do you feel when you recall the event?
●Do you experience dreams or flashbacks about it?
●Do you find yourself avoiding people or activities you associate with the event?
●Do you find yourself forgetting occurrences from that period?
●Do you find yourself looking carefully around when you are in a public place?
Management/treatment
Post-traumatic stress disorder treatment can help you regain a sense of
control over your life. The primary treatment is psychotherapy, but can also include
medication. Combining these treatments can help improve your symptoms by:
Helping you think better about yourself, others and the world
Psychotherapy
Several types of psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, may be used to treat
children and adults with PTSD. Some types of psychotherapy used in PTSD
treatment include:
Cognitive therapy. This type of talk therapy helps you recognize the ways of
thinking (cognitive patterns) that are keeping you stuck — for example, negative
beliefs about yourself and the risk of traumatic things happening again. For
PTSD, cognitive therapy often is used along with exposure therapy.
Medications
REACTION
New technologies may profoundly change the way of understanding
psychiatric disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Imaging and
biomarkers, along with technological and medical informatics developments, might
provide an answer regarding at-risk patient’s identification. Recent advances in the
concept of ‘digital phenotype’, which refers to the capture of characteristics of a
psychiatric disorder by computerized measurement tools, is one paradigmatic
example.
I was was amazed by the article that I have read because they have made it
easier for the physicians to diagnose PTSD with the help of computers. I hope in my
nursing career I can also experience working in a mental institution to help those
people with mental illness. I hope in the future there will be more accurate and faster
way of diagnosing PTSD so that it can be cured faster and it will not become severe.
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