Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Psychology and Sociology for MCAT PDF Download

Introduction

When faced with a traumatic event, individuals react differently, with varying emotional responses. While most people's reactions to such events are temporary and fade over time, some individuals may find it challenging to recover. For these individuals, the lingering or worsening feelings associated with the experience may be indicative of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This mental illness can profoundly impact a person's thoughts, emotions, behavior, and overall well-being, causing considerable distress or impairing their ability to function effectively.

The Normal Response to Stress

As individuals encounter new experiences, their brains assess the situation to determine whether it poses a threat or induces stress. If the brain perceives a situation as life-threatening, it triggers an immediate emergency response, commonly known as the "fight or flight" response. This response prepares the body to manage the stressful situation by heightening alertness and releasing hormones like adrenaline and norepinephrine. Once the perceived threat dissipates, the brain ceases the stress response, allowing the body to return to its normal state.

Malfunctioning of the Stress Response

In some cases, when individuals undergo extremely terrifying or chronically stressful experiences, their brains may overestimate the level of danger, leading to a malfunction of the stress response system. Rather than returning to normal over time, the body remains in a heightened state of alertness, continuously releasing stress hormones. This prolonged activation of the stress response can cause various brain areas to interpret the world incorrectly and instruct the body to respond inappropriately. This dysfunctional response is characteristic of individuals with PTSD and is associated with disruptions in brain structures and neurotransmitters responsible for managing fear and stress.

Comparison of Normal Function and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Individuals with PTSD typically experience four main symptoms that persist for at least one month following a traumatic event:

• Reliving the event: This symptom manifests as repeated re-experiencing of the trauma through nightmares, upsetting dreams, flashbacks, and intrusive thoughts. The body often responds to these experiences by activating the fight or flight response.
• Avoidance: People with PTSD often avoid anything associated with the traumatic event. This includes avoiding situations, places, people, and activities that serve as reminders of the trauma. They may also suppress their thoughts and feelings related to the traumatic experience.
• Hyperarousal: Hyperarousal is characterized by heightened physiological arousal and increased reactivity to stress and trauma. Individuals experiencing hyperarousal may exhibit jitteriness, easy startle responses, and difficulties with concentration due to constant vigilance for potential danger. Irritability and sleep disturbances are common as well.
• Changes in thoughts, feelings, and beliefs: This symptom category includes persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or fear, emotional numbness, loss of interest in activities and relationships, negative self-perception, and a belief that the world is dangerous and untrustworthy.

These symptoms can severely disrupt an individual's daily functioning, impairing their ability to work, study, and maintain meaningful relationships. If left untreated, the severity of these symptoms may escalate, potentially leading to suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Causes of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• PTSD is typically triggered by exposure to an extremely stressful or traumatic event that poses a direct threat to one's life or the lives of loved ones. Some examples of traumatic events include military combat, violent crimes, natural disasters, serious accidents, and sexual assault. The severity, duration, and proximity of exposure to trauma play a role in the likelihood of developing PTSD.
• Various risk factors can increase an individual's vulnerability to PTSD, including certain personality traits (such as borderline, antisocial, dependent, or paranoid traits), a perceived lack of control over life events, a lack of social support, pre-existing mental illnesses (like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or substance abuse), and stressful life events. It's important to note that different individuals may have different levels of susceptibility based on these factors.

Prevalence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Approximately 8% of adults in the United States will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. The disorder is more prevalent among certain demographic groups, such as single, divorced, or widowed individuals, those living in poverty, and socially withdrawn young adults. Gender differences exist as well, with women more likely to develop PTSD after experiencing rape or sexual assault, while men are more susceptible after combat-related trauma. People regularly exposed to trauma, such as veterans, abuse survivors, and first responders, experience higher rates of PTSD. For instance, around 17% of returning veterans from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq developed PTSD, and approximately 30% of all veterans have been affected by the disorder. Moreover, natural disasters with long-lasting effects have caused PTSD in approximately 50-70% of survivors.

1. Intervention and Treatment: Since traumatic events are often unforeseeable and unpreventable, the focus is primarily on early intervention rather than prevention. Swift identification of individuals at high risk of developing PTSD following a traumatic experience is crucial. Targeted programs can then be administered to enhance coping skills, reduce distress, and alleviate fear. Different interventions are employed, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), hypnosis, exposure therapy, relaxation techniques, and group or family therapy. Medications, specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms like anxiety and depression.
2. The Historical Context of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: While PTSD may seem like a modern diagnosis, its presence has been observed throughout history, albeit under different names. In the past, civil war veterans were often diagnosed with "soldier's heart," World War I veterans experienced "shell shock," and World War II gave rise to "combat fatigue." These historical terms all describe similar symptoms to what is now recognized as PTSD.
3. Additional Support through Service Animals: Service animals have been found to provide significant assistance to individuals with PTSD. These specially trained animals can recognize symptoms and offer support during crisis situations. They can bring medication, wake individuals during nightmares, provide distraction during anxiety-inducing moments, and offer emotional support.

Conclusion

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental illness that results from exposure to extremely stressful or traumatic events. Understanding its symptoms, causes, and prevalence is crucial for early intervention and effective treatment. Through a combination of psychotherapy, medications, and support systems, individuals with PTSD can improve their coping mechanisms and regain control over their lives.