Microlectures - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

13 important questions on Microlectures - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

What are the natural reactions after a traumatic event?

Reduced concentration, reduced thoughts, emotional reactions (fear or sadness), or physiological responses (sweating). Most people recover naturally on their own: about 10% develops PTSD.

What are the changes in the diagnosis of PTSD between DSM-IV and DSM-V?

1. In DSM-V it was classified as an anxiety disorder, but now as a trauma and stress-related disorder
2. Changes as part of the subjective criteria in the A-criteria have been left out of the DSM-V
3. There are now four classes of symptoms instead of 3
4. Can now also be diagnosed of a person has not directly experienced the traumatic event themselved
5. There are two specifiers (delayed onset (after 6 months) and dissociative symptoms (depersonalization))

What is the prevalence in children and adolescents?

Between 16 and 63%. They need less symptoms to fulfil the criteria
  • Higher grades + faster learning
  • Never study anything twice
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Discover Study Smart

What are the different classes of symptoms? (4)

1. Re-experiencing
2. Avoidance
3. Change in affect or cognitions (new)
4. Change in arousal

What are the vulnerability and risk factors for developing PTSD? (6)

1. Prior traumatisation
2. Personality traits
3. Psychopathology in general
4. Lack of social support
5. Ongoing stress
6. Biological vulnerability

What are important differential diagnostics for PTSD? (4)

1. ASS
2. Agoraphobia/anxiety disorders
3. OCD
4. Pathological grief

(Often depression as comorbidity)

What are the main discussion points about PTSD vs. complex PTSD as a diagnosis? (3)

1. Discussion about the differences and if they are different
2. Mentioned in ICD, but not in the DSM-V
3. Discussion about the stabilization phase for the treatment of C-PTSD (therapy might be the best stabilizer and wanting to stabilize can be seen as a form of avoidance)

When would C-PTSD develop?

When someone is repeatedly subject to trauma and cannot escape this. There is more disturbance in consciousness and there are more problems with coping, and treatment may take more time and is less predicable

What are the stages for treatment for PTSD? (3)

1. Stabilising
2. Reprocessing
3. Reconnecting to the world

What is important information to give to clients so that they don't blame themselves?

That the brain can make conscious choices and decisions, but we also have an animal brain that reacts automatically to hyperarousal (fight/flight/freeze). In PTSD people are often over- or under aroused, so the brain can no longer correctly tell the difference between normal and dangerous situations.

What are the main treatments for PTSD? (4)

1. Medication should be considered if the patient is also depressed
2. CBT exposure approach
3. EMDR
4. Increased evidence for narrative therapy

How can the CBT exposure approach be described?

It is based on the emotional processing theory that experiences are not processed emotionally at the time of the event. To process the event, the client narrates the traumatic experience multiple times, often in more and more detail, and listens to recordings afterwards. This should lead to less fear and cognitive restructuring.

What is the current theory on how EMDR works?

The working memory theory, states that recalling the memory and eye movements at the same time requires working memory capacity, and as a consequence, the memory becomes less vivid, and emotions

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

  • A unique study and practice tool
  • Never study anything twice again
  • Get the grades you hope for
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Remember faster, study better. Scientifically proven.
Trustpilot Logo