Let's Get Physical
Central Nervous System
What is the main body structure impacted by PTSD?
----
Others could include the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems as a result of hyperarousal & stress responses.
8.7%
What is the lifetime prevalence rate for PTSD in the USA?
----
This prevalence rate is for US adults under 75 years. The rates in other areas of the world are much lower (0.5 to 1%).
Family and faith
What are June's values?
----
We also know from the case study that June believes she has to protect her children and, in terms of spirituality, she is likely Christian as she works for a chaplain.
Flashbacks, avoidance, hypervigilance, & difficulty concentrating
What are some of the common symptoms of PTSD?
----
In the DSM-5, the four symptom clusters for diagnosis include: intrusion, persistent avoidance, persistent negative thoughts/feelings, and marked alterations in arousal/reactivity (Nussbaum, 2013).
1 month
What is the minimum length of time PTSD symptoms have to last for diagnosis?
----
If symptoms last for less than one month, the person would instead by diagnosed with Acute Stress Disorder.
Depression, anxiety & substance abuse
What are the comorbidities commonly seen with PTSD?
----
The co-existence of PTSD & substance abuse is believed to be due to attempts to self-medicate to relieve the other symptoms (Bonder, 2015).
Higher cognitive functions, attention, memory, thought & emotional
What body functions are impacted by PTSD symptoms?
----
These are also the areas in which functional deficits are often seen with PTSD. Others might include temperament & personality, and experience of self & time -- especially the client's diagnosis includes the specifier for dissociation (Champagne, 2019).
6 years
What is the minimum age a person has to be for a PTSD diagnosis?
----
Children under 6 years of age or younger can be diagnosed with a subtype of PTSD which has similar symptoms but emerges and is assessed differently (Champagne, 2019).
Sexual assault (rape), military combat, working in emergency response, or genocide
What are the experiences that put people at highest risk for developing PTSD?
----
Anyone can have PTSD after experiencing or witnessing a significant traumatic event. The risk factors for developing PTSD symptoms are many and complex, includiong temperamental, environmental, and genetic/neurophysiolocial factors (Champagne, 2019).