Literature Review - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and strategies to treat the disease. PTSD is described, the DSM criteria for PTSD are listed, whom PTSD affects, what causes PTSD, and the best-known treatments for PTSD are also included. The paper covers in great detail how a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy called the Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) and related treatments such as psychotherapy are used to treat PTSD.

Literature Review — Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder which mostly occurs following life-threatening events, natural disasters, serious accidents, military combats, serious survivals, physical or sexual assaults in adult or childhood. An estimated 7.8 percent of Americans experience PTSD at some point during their lives, with probability of women twice as men to develop PTSD (NDVA, 2007). Many survivors of PTSD go back to normal life given a small time, however, some stay with stress reactions which do not go away on their own. Such stress reactions usually get worse in most cases and can only be dealt through assorted medical/psychological procedures. People who suffer from PTSD often experience the same experience through bad dreams, flashbacks and often face difficulties in sleeping, reattachment to normal activities and in day-to-day chores.

People having PTSD are likely to have clear biological changes and some psychological symptoms. This disorder is associated with other disorders as memory problems, depression, substance issues and cognition. It is also connected with ability-impairments of a person to function in normal life, including marital problems, occupational issues, family discord, divorces and difficulties in parenting. The treatment can be done through psychotherapy and through medicines such as antidepressants. Early treatment helps reduce the chances of retention of this disorder and may help reduce long term symptoms. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of their state whether they have PTSD. APA (2000) declares that the symptoms for PTSD start within three months of a traumatic event. Although, there is a small number of cases in which the symptoms may not appear in many years. These symptoms are generally studied in three different groups: Intrusive memories, avoidance and emotional numbing, and hyperarousal.

Symptoms of 'intrusive memories' may include reliving the traumatic event by having upsetting dreams about the event, flashbacks which usually last for five minutes or even days at a time. Symptoms of 'avoidance and emotional numbing' may include attempts to avoid thinking or talking about the event. This symptom is usually observed in people who try to forget a particular event by ignoring to talk about it. Other symptoms under this group include memory problems, difficulty in maintaining relationships, hopelessness about the future, trouble concentrating, avoiding your favorite activities that you once enjoyed; and feeling emotionally numb. The symptoms for the third group, the 'hyperarousal' may include overwhelming guilt, trouble sleeping, seeing or hearing things that are not there, irritability or anger, self-destructive behavior such as drinking too much or getting involved into drugs, being easily ...