Post Traumatic Stress

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (cont.)

In this Article

* What is the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
* Why discuss PTSD now?
* What is the scope of PTSD?
* What are the symptoms of PTSD?
* How is the diagnosis made and what is the initial approach to PTSD?
* What are the tools to treat PTSD?
* What are the types of pychotherapy for PTSD?
* What are the medications for PTSD?
* What are the results of treatment and the follow-up of PTSD?
* What's in the future for PTSD?
* Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at a Glance
* Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Glossary
* Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Center

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

In general, post-traumatic stress disorder can be seen as an overwhelming of the body's normal psychological defenses against stress. Thus, after the trauma, there is abnormal function (dysfunction) of the normal defense systems, which results in certain symptoms. The symptoms are produced in three different ways:

1. Re-experiencing the trauma
2. Persistent avoidance
3. Increased arousal

First, symptoms can be produced by re-experiencing the trauma, whereby the individual can have distressing recollections of the trauma. For example, the person may relive the experience as terrible dreams or nightmares or as daytime flashbacks of the event. Furthermore, external cues in the environment may remind the patient of the event. As a result, the psychological distress of the exposure to trauma is reactivated (brought back) by internal thoughts, memories, and even fantasies. Persons also can experience physical reactions to stress, such as sweating and rapid heart rate. (These reactions are similar to the "fight or flight" responses to emergencies described by Dr. Walter Cannon.) The patient's posttraumatic symptoms can be identical to those symptoms experienced when the actual trauma was occurring.

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posted by Robert Heard at 10:46 AM