Assessment and Diagnosis of PTSD

The post traumatic stress disorder

Introduction

A post traumatic stress disorder is considered as an emotional disease which is classified as an anxiety disorder the cause for such a complex turmoil which is caused by the experience of a terrible, traumatic experience. People suffering PTSD keep re experiencing the trauma of the event repeatedly. They avoid all contacts with anything or anyone related to that particular event. Normal life itself becomes extremely difficult for them. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has been formally diagnosed in 1980. That does not mean the disorder was nonexistent before ever since people have been experiencing trauma there has been this disorder, previously during the American Civil war people referred to this disorder as "Soldier's heart".

During the World War I it was termed as Combat fatigue and during the World War II it was considered as the gross stress reaction. Post traumatic stress disorder is a result of a prolonged event of some trauma which creates problems in many emotional aspects and social functioning. There is an approximation that 7% to 8% Americans are likely to develop PTSD in their lifetime in mostly veterans, rape victims. African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans are more likely prone to developing this disorder in comparison to Caucasians. The reason behind this is minorities have less social support and some are still victims of racism. Military officers exposure to ears and fights at a younger age, are all issues that are most likely to lead towards PTSD. Countless studies show that women suffer more PTSD than men. Children also suffer from PTSD after experiencing some traumatic incident. Girls are more prone to developing this disorder, due to rape, abuse, family turmoil (Edwards and Stoppler, 2010).

Effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

There are many people who have experienced traumas in life but not all of them develop PTSD there is also some physical consequences that can direct to the development of PTSD. For example research shows that people who have been open to the elements of trauma in life have a smaller hippocampus, which is the region of the brain responsible for the formation of memories, than people not exposed to trauma. This helps in explaining trauma effects and impacts a person. The hippocampus develops new recollections about life and also develops PTSD in a traumatized person; it also increases the use of cigarette, alcohol and marijuana.

Untreated PTSD can become a huge problem in life since it has extreme devastations. Pregnant women undergo numerous emotional issues they are likely to develop PTSD. Children who are born to mothers with PTSD are likely to develop the disorder later on in life.

Factors that can ultimately lead to PTSD

Any person dealing with trauma for a long period is likely to develop this disorder, severity of the trauma, having no support or in some cases already having emotional issues. Women, girls, adolescent people with disabilities all seem to increase in a person's risk of developing PTSD. Preparing for disaster is not something that can be ...