Posttraumatic stress disorder

Examples of Posttraumatic stress disorder in the following topics:

• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after exposure to an event that is so stressful for an individual that it becomes traumatic.
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after exposure to an event that is so stressful for an individual that it becomes traumatic.
  • Historically (DSM-IV) categorized as an anxiety disorder, it is now  categorized under "Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders" in the DSM 5.
  • The HPA axis is a major biological mechanism of stress and stress response
  • Describe the role of the endocrine system in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Biology of Emotion

  • Research suggests that the amygdala is involved in mood and anxiety disorders.
  • Changes in amygdala structure and function have been found in adolescents who either are at risk for or have been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder (Miguel-Hidalgo, 2013; Qin et al., 2013).
  • It has also been suggested that functional differences in the amygdala could be used to differentiate individuals suffering from bipolar disorder from those suffering from major depressive disorder (Fournier, Keener, Almeida, Kronhaus, & Phillips, 2013).
  • As with the amygdala, research has demonstrated that hippocampal structure and function are linked to a variety of mood and anxiety disorders.
  • Individuals suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) show marked reductions in volume in several parts of the hippocampus, which may be the result of decreased levels of neurogenesis and dendritic branching (the generation of new neurons and the generation of new dendrites in existing neurons, respectively) (Wang et al., 2010).

• Introduction to Anxiety Disorders

  • Anxiety disorders, however, are dysfunctional responses to anxiety-inducing situations.
  • The difference between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder is that anxiety disorders cause such severe distress as to interfere with someone's ability to lead a normal life.
  • "Anxiety disorder" refers to any of a number of specific disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, phobia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
  • In addition to biological factors, anxiety disorders can also be caused by various life stresses, such as financial worries or chronic physical illness.
  • Anxiety disorders can arise in response to life stresses such as financial worries or chronic physical illness.

• The Endocrine System and Stress

  • Stress is the simple name for what happens when the body's emergency response is activated; a stressful event is one that activates the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) nervous system.
  • In experimental studies in rats, a distinction is often made between social stress and physical stress, but both types activate the HPA axis, albeit through different pathways.
  • The HPA is important to psychology because it is intimately involved with many mood disorders involving stress, including anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, insomnia, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, ADHD, depression, and many others.
  • In post-traumatic stress disorder there appears to be lower-than-normal cortisol release, and it is thought that a blunted hormonal response to stress may predispose a person to develop PTSD.
  • Children who were stressed prenatally may show altered cortisol rhythms.

• Consequences of Workplace Stress

  • Burnout, depression, and psychosomatic disorders are particularly common outcomes of work-related stress.
  • In general, individual distress manifests in three basic forms: psychological disorders, medical illnesses, and behavioral problems.
  • Psychosomatic disorders are a type of psychological disorder.
  • Since stress of this type is often difficult to notice, managers would benefit from carefully monitoring employee behavior for indications of discomfort or stress.
  • Managers are in a unique position when it comes to workplace stress.

• How Stress Impacts our Health

  • Acute stress occurs in the short-term and is usually resolved rather quickly; chronic stress is long-term and usually unresolved, leading to a variety of problems.
  • Many people experience some type of depressive mood or feeling in relation to stress, and excessive amounts of stress has been shown to contribute to depression or anxiety.
  • One of the most serious ways that stress can impact psychological well-being is in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • Stress not only impacts our psychological well-being, but can contribute to physical ill-health as well, such as digestive disorders, sleep disturbances, and general lack of energy.
  • Cortisol, also known as the "stress hormone", plays an integral role in our body's reaction to stress.

• Defining Stress

  • The differing viewpoints suggest different ways to prevent stress at work.
  • In other words, what is stressful for one person may not be a problem for someone else.
  • Stress-related disorders encompass a broad array of conditions, including psychological disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder) and other types of emotional strain (e.g., dissatisfaction, fatigue, tension), maladaptive behaviors (e.g., aggression, substance abuse), and cognitive impairment (e.g., concentration and memory problems).
  • A black and white photo of a woman that captures her high level of stress.
  • Define stress within the field of organizational behavior and workplace dynamics

• Fibromyalgia

  • Fibromyalgia is a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain and a heightened and painful response to pressure.
  • It is frequently comorbid with psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety, and stress-related disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
  • They then narrow down the diagnosis by eliminating the possible disorders one by one until only fibromyalgia is left.
  • Historically, fibromyalgia was considered a musculoskeletal disorder, but it is now considered a disorder of the central nervous system.
  • Some research suggests that these brain anomalies may be the result of childhood stress, or prolonged or severe stress, rather than an inherited disorder.

• Explaining Mood Disorders

  • Mood disorders (also called affective disorders) characterize a group of psychological disorders where disturbance in the person's mood is thought to be the main underlying feature.
  • When most people think of mood disorders, they typically think of depression (also called major depressive disorder and clinical depression) and bipolar disorder.
  • However, there are two milder versions of these mood disorders, respectively termed dysthymic disorder (or dysthymia) and cyclothymic disorder (or cyclothymia).
  • Major depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, and cyclothymia all have roots in genetic susceptibility, neurochemical imbalances, childhood and adult stress and trauma, and social circumstances.
  • The total number of reported stressful events in childhood is higher in those with an adult diagnosis of bipolar spectrum disorder, compared to those without.

• Depressive Disorders

  • This includes acute physical stresses such as diseases or infections, psychological stresses such as bereavement, and social stresses such as work problems or a significant change in social status or living conditions.
  • This may include physical inactivity, emotional disorders, ongoing psychological or social stresses, and abnormalities of sleep.
  • Also, an individual may have a depressive disorder coexisting with a substance abuse disorder.
  • This diagnosis combines the previous disorders of chronic major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder, as there was no evidence for meaningful differences between these two conditions.
  • The symptoms of DMDD resemble those of other childhood disorders, notably attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and bipolar disorder in children.