Signs and Symptoms
This is a sudden and disturbing vivid memory of something relating to a previous traumatic event.
What is an intrusive thought (flashback)?
An estimated 49% of people subjected to this type of trauma develop PTSD.
What is rape/sexual assault?
This is the most common psychiatric comorbidity with PTSD.
What is major depressive disorder?
These are the only two drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of PTSD.
What are paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft)?
This disorder is notable for its limited duration (<1 month) after exposure to trauma.
What is acute stress disorder?
After a mugging, a patient refuses to go out alone in the dark, always sits with her back to the wall, and is always alert/jumpy. These behaviors indicate this symptom.
What is hypervigilance/arousal?
These two categories of traumatic events are much more likely to result in PTSD than others.
What is physical assault and/or abuse?
This common comorbidity of PTSD can also be thought of as a form of avoidance behavior.
What is substance use disorders?
These drugs can be helpful with some symptoms of PTSD, but should be used carefully and for short periods.
What are anxiolytics/benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax) or clonazepam (Klonopin)?
This disorder involves a reaction to a stressful life event(s) that causes the patient difficulty/distress, appears within one month of the event(s) and last <6 months.
What is an adjustment disorder?
This patient views themselves negatively ("It's my own fault."), has trouble remembering key details of the trauma and displays anhedonia and guilt.
What are mood and cognitive symptoms?
This type of trauma greatly increases later risk of PTSD even if it doesn't produce it by itself.
What is childhood physical or sexual abuse?
Individuals with PTSD often display high circulating levels of this hormone and little circadian variation in level.
What is cortisol?
This type of psychotherapy involves graded exposure to traumatic memories under controlled conditions.
What is exposure therapy?
This disorder involves a disruption of usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity, or environmental perception.
What is dissociative disorder?
An example of this symptom is this: Frank was involved in a severe MVA on his way to work in which his best friend died. He now uses other routes to work despite the fact that they add 20 minutes to his commute.
What is avoidance?
These three job categories have a much greater risk/rate of PTSD than others.
What are the military, law enforcement, and medical professions?
This common comorbidity of PTSD is often identified before the PTSD itself because of it's shared symptomatology.
What are anxiety disorders, particularly panic disorder?
This psychotherapy is used to help the patient recognize and modify trauma-related thoughts and their responses to those thoughts.
What is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)?
This response to severe trauma involves the display of two or more distinct identities or personality states and is accompanied by pronounced gaps in memory.
What is dissociative identity disorder (DID)?
This distinguishes PTSD from Acute Stress Disorder.
What is duration of symptoms longer than one month?
Regardless of any other factor, these individuals have a 2-4x greater risk of PTSD than others.
What are women?
This comorbidity of PTSD is life-threatening.
What is suicide?
This produces the best treatment outcomes for most patients with PTSD.
What is psychotherapy combined with pharmacotherapy?
These disorders are most common among patients with a history of severe childhood physical or sexual abuse.
What are dissociative disorders?