15.6 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
4 min read•june 25, 2024
Traumatic events can leave lasting scars on our minds. is a mental health condition that develops after experiencing or witnessing something terrifying. It can cause intrusive memories, behaviors, negative thoughts, and heightened reactions.
PTSD impacts how we process information and memories. Our brains may become hypervigilant to potential threats, develop negative beliefs about ourselves and the world, and struggle to integrate traumatic memories. These changes can make it hard to feel safe and move forward.
Understanding Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Nature and Symptoms
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): An Overview View original
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- PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event such as a natural disaster, severe accident, terrorist act, war/combat, or violent personal assault like rape
- Symptoms include:
- Intrusive memories
- Recurrent, unwanted, distressing memories of the traumatic event that can occur at any time
- Reliving the event as if it were happening again () with the same intense fear and horror
- Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event that cause sleep disturbances
- Avoidance
- Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event by keeping busy or distracting oneself
- Avoiding places, activities, or people that remind you of the traumatic event and trigger distressing memories
- Negative changes in thinking and mood
- Negative thoughts about yourself (self-blame), other people (distrust), or the world (life is dangerous)
- Hopelessness about the future and difficulty imagining a fulfilling life
- Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event or difficulty recalling details
- Difficulty maintaining close relationships due to feeling disconnected or emotionally numb
- Feeling detached from family and friends and preferring to be alone
- Lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed such as hobbies or social activities
- Difficulty experiencing positive emotions like happiness, joy, satisfaction, or loving feelings
- Feeling emotionally numb or struggling to experience any emotions at all
- Changes in physical and emotional reactions
- Being easily startled or frightened by sudden loud noises (door slamming) or unexpected touches
- Always being on guard for danger and feeling tense or "on edge" most of the time
- Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much, driving recklessly, or engaging in risky sexual behavior
- Trouble sleeping due to disturbing dreams, feeling unsafe, or being easily awakened
- Trouble concentrating on tasks or remembering daily responsibilities
- Irritability, angry outbursts, or aggressive behavior toward people or objects
- Overwhelming guilt or shame about the traumatic event and feeling like you could have done more to prevent it
- Intrusive memories
Risk Factors
- Experiencing intense or long-lasting such as childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, or torture
- Having experienced other trauma earlier in life, such as childhood neglect or bullying, which can compound the effects of later trauma
- Having a job that increases your risk of being exposed to traumatic events, such as military personnel (combat), first responders (police officers, firefighters, paramedics), and healthcare workers
- Having other mental health problems, such as anxiety disorders (panic disorder) or mood disorders (major depressive disorder)
- Having problems with substance misuse, such as excessive alcohol consumption or illicit drug use (heroin)
- Lacking a good support system of family and friends who can provide emotional support and practical help
- Having blood relatives with mental health problems, including anxiety disorders or depressive disorders, suggesting a possible genetic vulnerability
Learning and Cognitive Processes
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- Neutral stimuli associated with the trauma can become conditioned stimuli and elicit fear responses through repeated pairing
- For example, a person who experienced a traumatic event in a specific location (dark alley) may develop a conditioned fear response to that location or similar environments (dimly lit areas)
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- Avoidance behaviors are negatively reinforced by reducing anxiety and distress in the short term, making them more likely to occur in the future
- However, avoidance prevents the individual from learning that the feared stimuli are not actually dangerous, maintaining the PTSD symptoms in the long run
- Cognitive processes
- Attentional bias towards threat-related stimuli
- Individuals with PTSD may be hypervigilant and overly attentive to potential threats in their environment, such as scanning for dangers or being easily startled
- Negative appraisals and beliefs
- Trauma can lead to negative beliefs about oneself (I am weak), others (people cannot be trusted), and the world (the world is a dangerous place)
- These negative appraisals maintain the sense of current threat and contribute to the persistence of PTSD symptoms by influencing thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
- Impaired memory processes
- Trauma memories may be fragmented, disorganized, and poorly integrated into the individual's autobiographical memory or life story
- This can lead to difficulties in processing and making sense of the traumatic experience, hindering recovery from PTSD by preventing the formation of a coherent narrative
- Attentional bias towards threat-related stimuli
Key Terms to Review (21)
Attentional Biases: Attentional biases refer to the tendency of an individual's attention to be drawn towards or away from certain stimuli or information, often in a manner that is not entirely rational or objective. These biases can influence how we perceive, process, and remember information, and can have significant implications in various contexts, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Avoidance: Avoidance refers to the act of evading or escaping from a perceived threat or unpleasant situation. It is a common coping mechanism employed by individuals, particularly in the context of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), to alleviate distress and anxiety associated with traumatic experiences.
Classical Conditioning: Classical conditioning is a type of learning in which a neutral stimulus is paired with an innate or naturally occurring stimulus, eventually leading the neutral stimulus to elicit a similar response on its own. This process was famously demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov's experiments with dogs and their salivary responses.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the interplay between an individual's thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. It aims to help people identify and change negative or maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors to improve their overall mental health and well-being.
Comorbidity: Comorbidity refers to the presence of two or more medical conditions or disorders that occur simultaneously in an individual. It is a concept that is particularly relevant in the context of psychological disorders, as individuals with one mental health condition often experience the co-occurrence of additional disorders or issues.
Dissociative Amnesia: Dissociative amnesia is a mental health condition characterized by the inability to recall personal information, usually associated with a stressful or traumatic event. It is a type of dissociative disorder that involves a disruption in a person's sense of identity, memory, and/or consciousness, often as a coping mechanism in response to overwhelming experiences.
Emotional Numbing: Emotional numbing is a psychological response that can occur in individuals who have experienced a traumatic event. It involves a diminished emotional responsiveness, where the person feels detached or disconnected from their feelings, making it difficult to experience a range of emotions.
Exposure Therapy: Exposure therapy is a type of behavioral therapy used to treat various psychological disorders, particularly anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It involves gradually exposing an individual to the source of their fear or anxiety in a controlled and safe environment, with the goal of reducing the emotional and physiological response to that stimulus over time.
Flashbacks: Flashbacks are vivid and intrusive recollections of a traumatic event that feel as if they are happening in the present moment. They are a common symptom of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), where the individual relives the traumatic experience as if it is occurring again, often accompanied by intense emotions and physical sensations.
Hypervigilance: Hypervigilance is an enhanced state of sensory sensitivity accompanied by an exaggerated intensity of behaviors whose purpose is to detect threats. It is a symptom seen in various mental health conditions, particularly in the context of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Intrusion Symptoms: Intrusion symptoms are a core feature of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), characterized by the involuntary re-experiencing of a traumatic event through vivid flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts. These symptoms reflect the brain's attempt to process and make sense of the traumatic experience, often in an overwhelming and disruptive manner.
Operant Conditioning: Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which the consequences of a behavior determine the likelihood of that behavior occurring again. It involves reinforcing desired behaviors and discouraging undesired ones to shape an individual's actions and responses over time. This concept is central to understanding how psychology has evolved from its historical foundations to its contemporary applications across various contexts, including learning, behavior modification, and the treatment of psychological disorders.
Overgeneralized Memories: Overgeneralized memories refer to the tendency for individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to recall traumatic experiences in an overly broad and generalized manner, rather than recalling specific details. This phenomenon is a common symptom of PTSD and can contribute to the persistence of the disorder.
Peritraumatic Dissociation: Peritraumatic dissociation refers to the altered state of consciousness that can occur during or immediately after a traumatic event. It is characterized by a sense of detachment or disconnection from one's surroundings, emotions, or physical sensations, which can impact the individual's perception and processing of the traumatic experience.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It is characterized by persistent intrusive thoughts, avoidance of trauma-related stimuli, negative changes in cognition and mood, and heightened physiological arousal.
PTSD: PTSD, or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It is characterized by persistent and intrusive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to the traumatic experience, which can significantly impact an individual's daily life and functioning.
Resilience: Resilience refers to the ability to adapt and bounce back from adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or significant sources of stress. It is a crucial psychological construct that enables individuals to cope effectively with challenging life events and maintain a positive outlook despite facing difficulties.
Rumination: Rumination is the act of repeatedly and passively focusing one's attention on the symptoms of one's distress, and on its possible causes and consequences, as opposed to taking action to alleviate the distress. It is a common feature in various psychological disorders, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Thought Suppression: Thought suppression is the conscious effort to avoid or push away certain thoughts or mental experiences. It is a coping mechanism often employed by individuals dealing with traumatic events or intrusive thoughts, with the goal of reducing the distress associated with those thoughts.
Trauma: Trauma refers to a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that overwhelms an individual's ability to cope, often resulting in long-lasting emotional, psychological, and physical effects. This term is particularly relevant in the context of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Dissociative Disorders, as these conditions are characterized by the aftermath of traumatic events.
Triggers: Triggers are specific stimuli or events that can elicit a particular emotional, physiological, or behavioral response in an individual, especially in the context of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance-related and addictive disorders. These triggers can serve as catalysts for the onset or exacerbation of symptoms associated with these psychological conditions.