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Diagnosing PTSD

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  • Module: PTSD/
  • Diagnosing PTSD

Diagnosing Post-traumatic stress disorder

Although there will be no question asking you to describe the symptoms of PTSD, it is important that you understand the nature of the disorder before we get into the etiologies or potential explanations for the disorder. You should know the affective, behavioural, cognitive, and physiological (somatic) symptoms of the disorder as well as the difficulties in obtaining a valid diagnosis.

Key concepts

Flashback: repeated episodes of re-living the traumatic experience while you're fully awake. Flashbacks can come on suddenly and feel uncontrollable

Hypervigilance: a state of increased alertness in which an individual is extremely sensitive to his or her surroundings.

Intrusive thoughts: threatening thoughts that constantly occur to a person without conscious or voluntary control. These thoughts are capable of creating severe anxiety when they enter the mind.

Panic attack: the abrupt onset of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes and includes at least four of the following symptoms: Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate. Sweating. Trembling or shaking. Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering.

Trauma: the response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual's ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes their sense of self and their ability to feel the full range of emotions and experiences

textMDD and the DSM 5 

PTSD and the DSM 5 

Before starting with a modern understanding of the disorder, let's take a look at the history of the disorder.  First, make note of how the symptoms have changed over the years.  Secondly, note how different cultures tried to "help" people with the disorder.

Read through the following presentation.  At the end of the presentation, you should be able to explain the key symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and why it is often difficult to diagnose.

Living with post-traumatic stress disorder

The following two videos look at the effects of having PTSD.  After watching the videos, what are the effects of the disorder on the individual?  On others around them?

Checking for understanding

Which of the following health problems has been linked to PTSD in Vietnam veterans?

 

 

What percent of people who are exposed to trauma are likely to develop PTSD?

 

 

Which of the following is not a cognitive symptom of PTSD?

Avoiding trauma-related stimuli is a behavioural symptom.

 

How long must symptoms last in order to be diagnosed with PTSD?

 

 

Why would doctors give a patient a blood test when she thinks that he suffers from PTSD?

 

 

According to the Sidran Institute, which trauma has the highest level of PTSD?

 

 

Which of the following is not a difficulty in diagnosing PTSD?

 

 

Total Score:

Continue to Biological explanations of PTSD