- Review the information on Acute and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) from Chapter 6 of your textbook.
- In your post, summarize the essential features of PTSD. What are the current treatments for this disorder?
- Please use chapter six file only. No online research and no referencing.
Basic Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences Chapter Six Stress Disorders * Stress Disorders Stressor: External event or situation that places a physical or psychological demand on a person Range from chronic irritation to acute an traumatic events Stress: Internal psychological or physiological response to a stressor * Stress Disorders (cont’d.) Figure 6-2 Five Leading Causes of Stress in America Source: American Psychological Association (2010) * Acute and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders Both begin with a normative reaction (“fight or flight”) that occurs when an individual faces some type of danger Fear response remains even though original basis for fear is no longer present * Acute and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders (cont’d.) Acute stress disorder (ASD): Anxiety and dissociative symptoms that occur within one month after exposure to a traumatic stressor Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Anxiety, dissociative, and other symptoms that last for more than one month and that occur as a result of exposure to extreme trauma * Diagnosis of ASD and PTSD DSM-V criteria: Direct or indirect exposure to stressor Intrusive symptoms and intense physiological reactivity associated with traumatic event Persistent evasion of stimuli related to trauma Alterations in cognitions and mood associated with event and inability to experience positive emotions Heightened autonomic arousal or reactivity * Diagnosis of ASD and PTSD (cont’d.) Differ in duration: ASD lasts three days to one month PTSD lasts longer than a month An individual is likely to receive initial diagnosis of ASD and then PTSD if symptoms persist longer than a month * Etiology of ASD and PTSD Figure 6-1 Multipath Model for PTSD The dimensions interact with one another and combine in different ways to result in PTSD. * Etiology of ASD and PTSD (cont’d.) Factors associated with increased risk: Higher magnitude stressors More severe physical injuries Multiple stressors Rape and sexual assault Individual characteristics Perceptions of event Specific vulnerabilities * Etiology of ASD and PTSD (cont’d.) Biological dimension: Sensitized autonomic system: Nervous system has become highly reactive to fear and stress PTSD is not a biologically normative stress response, but one in which neural and biological systems demonstrate increased reactivity resulting in hypersensitivity Diminished ability to inhibit or extinguish conditioned fear * Etiology of ASD and PTSD (cont’d.) Biological dimension: Role of the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex Epinephrine and cortisol One third of risk for PTSD due to genetics Individuals with specific biological vulnerabilities predisposed to developing PTSD. * Etiology of ASD and PTSD (cont’d.) Psychological dimension: Specific psychological vulnerabilities have been identified, but precise role varies Dysfunctional cognitions regarding oneself or environment Positive cognitive styles reduce risk of PTSD Preexisting conditions such as trait anxiety and depression found to be risk factors * Etiology of ASD and PTSD (cont’d.) Social dimension: Poor or inadequate support during childhood and adulthood Social isolation Lack of social support after trauma may be most important factor Above average cognitive skills as protective factors * Etiology of ASD and PTSD (cont’d.) Sociocultural dimension: Recent immigrants and refugees from countries where there was civil conflict show elevated rates of stress disorders Ethnic differences Women are twice as likely as men to suffer stress disorder * Treatment of ASD and PTSD Biological: SSRI antidepressants Psychological: Psychotherapy focus on extinguishing fear or to correct dysfunctional cognitions Exposure to cues associated with trauma * Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Conditions Medical evidence suggests attitudes and emotional states have impact on physical well-being Psychophysiological disorder: Physical disorder that has a strong psychological basis or component * Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Conditions (cont’d.) DSM-V criteria: Medical condition is present Psychological or behavioral factors are adversely influencing the medical condition in one of the following ways Close temporal relationship between condition and psychological factors Psychological factors interfere with treatment Psychological factors cause additional health risk Psychological factors influence physiology * Psychophysiological Disorders Characteristics: Actual tissue damage, a disease process, or physiological dysfunction Medical treatment and psychotherapy usually required Physical and psychological factors vary greatly * Psychophysiological Disorders (cont’d.) Coronary heart disease: The narrowing of cardiac arteries, resulting in restriction of partial blockage of flow of blood and oxygen to heart Psychosocial risk factors Depression Perceived stress Difficult life events * Psychophysiological Disorders (cont’d.) Hypertension: Chronic condition characterized by blood pressure of 140 over 90 or higher Found in 28% of US adult population Stressors impact blood pressure * Psychophysiological Disorders (cont’d.) Migraine, tension, and cluster headaches: Migraine headaches: Moderate to severe pain resulting from constriction of the cranial arteries followed by dilation of cerebral blood vessels Tension headaches: Produced by prolonged contraction of scalp and neck muscles, resulting in vascular constriction and steady pain * Psychophysiological Disorders (cont’d.) Migraine, tension, and cluster headaches: Cluster headaches: Excruciating stabbing or burning sensations located in the eye or cheek * Psychophysiological Disorders (cont’d.) Asthma: Chronic inflammatory disease of the airways in the lungs, in which the airways become constricted, making it difficult to empty the lungs and therefore reducing the amount of air that can be inhaled * Psychophysiological Disorders (cont’d.) Stress and the immune system: Stress itself does not appear to cause infections, but it may decrease immune system’s efficiency thereby making one more susceptible to disease Part of stress response involves release of several neurohormones that can impair immune functioning * Psychophysiological Disorders (cont’d.) Exposure to chronic stress appears to increase vulnerability to infection and accelerates progression of disease by decreasing immunity Connection between stress and naturally occurring cancer has yet to be demonstrated * Etiology of Psychophysiological Disorders Figure 6-9 Multipath Mode for Psychophysiological Disorders The dimensions interact with one another and combine in different ways to result in a specific psychophysiological disorder. * Etiology of Psychophysiological Disorders (cont’d.) Biological dimension: Stressors can dysregulate HPA axis and sympathetic nervous system through release of neurohormones (e.g., norepinephrine, catecholamines, and cortisol) Changes in brain structure and in the stress-responsive neurobiological systems due to environmental influences Genetic influences * Etiology of Psychophysiological Disorders (cont’d.) Psychological dimension: Psychological and personality characteristics can mediate effects of exposure to stressors Positive affect: optimism, happiness, joy, and contentment Hardiness: commitment, control, and challenge Personal control and perception of control Positive emotions: optimism Negative emotional states can elevate risk: depression, hostility, anxiety, and cynicism * Etiology of Psychophysiological Disorders (cont’d.) Social dimension: Childhood adversities linked to adult onset headaches Divorce, separation, and abrasive marital relations all linked to negative health changes Strong and positive social network linked to positive health High quality relationships linked to reduced physiological reactivity to stress * Etiology of Psychophysiological Disorders (cont’d.) Sociocultural dimension: Conflicts with societal standards Discrimination and exposure to racism Cultural expectations Cultural changes Women more likely to be impacted by stress due to care-giving role * Treatment of Psychophysiological Disorders Relaxation training: Learn to relax muscles of the body in almost any circumstances Biofeedback training: Learn voluntary control of specific physiological function of interest (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure) * Treatment of Disorders (cont’d.) Cognitive-behavioral intervention: Anger management Social-cognitive processing programs to help find validation and meaning Improve coping skills and manage stress * Future Directions in Research Must consider biological, psychological, social, and sociocultural dimensions Areas of interest: Biology of stress Psychological characteristics Social networks Sociocultural factors * Basic Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences Chapter Six Stress Disorders * Stress Disorders Stressor: External event or situation that places a physical or psychological demand on a person Range from chronic irritation to acute an traumatic events Stress: Internal psychological or physiological response to a stressor * Stress Disorders (cont’d.) Figure 6-2 Five Leading Causes of Stress in America Source: American Psychological Association (2010) * Acute and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders Both begin with a normative reaction (“fight or flight”) that occurs when an individual faces some type of danger Fear response remains even though original basis for fear is no longer present * Acute and Posttraumatic Stress Disorders (cont’d.) Acute stress disorder (ASD): Anxiety and dissociative symptoms that occur within one month after exposure to a traumatic stressor Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Anxiety, dissociative, and other symptoms that last for more than one month and that occur as a result of exposure to extreme trauma * Diagnosis of ASD and PTSD DSM-V criteria: Direct or indirect exposure to stressor Intrusive symptoms and intense physiological reactivity associated with traumatic event Persistent evasion of stimuli related to trauma Alterations in cognitions and mood associated with event and inability to experience positive emotions Heightened autonomic arousal or reactivity * Diagnosis of ASD and PTSD (cont’d.) Differ in duration: ASD lasts three days to one month PTSD lasts longer than a month An individual is likely to receive initial diagnosis of ASD and then PTSD if symptoms persist longer than a month * Etiology of ASD and PTSD Figure 6-1 Multipath Model for PTSD The dimensions interact with one another and combine in different ways to result in PTSD. * Etiology of ASD and PTSD (cont’d.) Factors associated with increased risk: Higher magnitude stressors More severe physical injuries Multiple stressors Rape and sexual assault Individual characteristics Perceptions of event Specific vulnerabilities * Etiology of ASD and PTSD (cont’d.) Biological dimension: Sensitized autonomic system: Nervous system has become highly reactive to fear and stress PTSD is not a biologically normative stress response, but one in which neural and biological systems demonstrate increased reactivity resulting in hypersensitivity Diminished ability to inhibit or extinguish conditioned fear * Etiology of ASD and PTSD (cont’d.) Biological dimension: Role of the amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex Epinephrine and cortisol One third of risk for PTSD due to genetics Individuals with specific biological vulnerabilities predisposed to developing PTSD. * Etiology of ASD and PTSD (cont’d.) Psychological dimension: Specific psychological vulnerabilities have been identified, but precise role varies Dysfunctional cognitions regarding oneself or environment Positive cognitive styles reduce risk of PTSD Preexisting conditions such as trait anxiety and depression found to be risk factors * Etiology of ASD and PTSD (cont’d.) Social dimension: Poor or inadequate support during childhood and adulthood Social isolation Lack of social support after trauma may be most important factor Above average cognitive skills as protective factors * Etiology of ASD and PTSD (cont’d.) Sociocultural dimension: Recent immigrants and refugees from countries where there was civil conflict show elevated rates of stress disorders Ethnic differences Women are twice as likely as men to suffer stress disorder * Treatment of ASD and PTSD Biological: SSRI antidepressants Psychological: Psychotherapy focus on extinguishing fear or to correct dysfunctional cognitions Exposure to cues associated with trauma * Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Conditions Medical evidence suggests attitudes and emotional states have impact on physical well-being Psychophysiological disorder: Physical disorder that has a strong psychological basis or component * Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Conditions (cont’d.) DSM-V criteria: Medical condition is present Psychological or behavioral factors are adversely influencing the medical condition in one of the following ways Close temporal relationship between condition and psychological factors Psychological factors interfere with treatment Psychological factors cause additional health risk Psychological factors influence physiology * Psychophysiological Disorders Characteristics: Actual tissue damage, a disease process,