Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

This discussion will aim to Describe and critically analyze definitions of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the symptoms of PTSD. In the process, the discussion will give consideration to racial, cultural, or gender differences in the onset of PTSD. Guiding principles for working with a diverse population and influence of environment on individual development influenced will also be given relevance.

The three main factors of post-traumatic stress are: reexperiencing the trauma through dreams and waking thoughts, emotional numbness to other experiences and relationships of life and symptoms of autonomic instability, depression, and cognitive difficulties (Keane, et. al., 2008). The disorder develops in people who have experienced physical or emotional stress of a magnitude that would be extremely traumatic for virtually anyone. This disorder can appear at any age, due to the nature of the triggering situations, and has a higher prevalence among adults and youth. The likelihood of developing the disorder of the post-traumatic stress is related to the severity of the stressor, the more severe the stressor.

The very young and very old are more difficult to deal with traumatic events than those in most age. For example, about 80% of young children who suffer burns show symptoms of post-traumatic stress one or two years after the burn. Alternatively, only 30% of adults who suffer this type of injury have a disorder, post-traumatic stress after one year. It is believed then that small children do not have adequate coping mechanisms to deal with the insults physical and emotional trauma (Bisson, 2007). However, on the other to the elderly when compared to young adults tend to have coping mechanisms are more rigid and less capable of a flexible approach to the effects of trauma. In addition, the effects of trauma can be potentiated by physical disabilities and aging characteristics of psychiatric and psychological disabilities as well as personality disorder.

The same authors found that social support also positively or negatively affect the post-traumatic stress due to the severity and duration of the disorder, post-traumatic stress. It is noteworthy that patients who have a good network of social support are less likely to have the disorder or try it in more severe forms (Roth, et. al., 2011). The post-traumatic stress is more likely to occur with single people, divorcees, widows, economically disadvantaged or socially deprived. As clinical characteristics are shown in most people who have this disorder: nightmares, feelings of guilt, rejection, humiliation, dissociative states, panic attacks, delusions, hallucinations, and also, symptoms associated with aggression: violence, weak impulse control and drug use.

Interventions that are more common for post-traumatic stress are tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine (Tofranil), as well as psychotherapy, which includes behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy. It is necessary to point out that psychotherapy and offer support, can bring comfort to patients (Ressler, et. al., 2011). By experiencing the trauma, the patient usually has nightmares and intrusive thoughts (which are independent of their will) very negative, pessimistic and tragic, to avoid reminders of the trauma causes him ...