JAN / FEB 2015- Suraya Karoojee
THEME 2 - TRAUMA RELATED DISORDERS
QUESTION 1:
a) Discuss the aetiology of Acute and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (15)
Anxiety and stress are part of life and human existence. It is a normal response and
can serve as a driving force that leads to functional behaviour, since it triggers the
fight or flight response. When anxiety and stress reach a level of negative behaviour
and consequences we need to examine if it has developed into Acute and post
traumatic stress disorder. Diagnosis of acute and post traumatic stress disorder is not
always clear cut as various factors need to be taken into account. One of them being
that there may be other disorders that overlap for example; depression and obsessive
compulsive disorder. Below is the DSM 5 diagnostic criteria for acute and post
traumatic stress disorder (refer to tutorial letter PYC4802, 101, PAGE 54 - 58).
To be able to make a proper diagnosis one also needs to know the aetiology or
causation of Trauma Related Disorders. Let us first define what is a trauma. A trauma
is defined as an event that results in feelings of intense fear, helplessness or horror.
The emphasis is placed on the subjects’ response to the event rather than the event
itself. Some people develop the disorder after the trauma has been experienced while
some people don’t.
A persons’ response to a traumatic event is based on how one psychologically
processes the event. This is determined by his/her personal characteristics of previous
trauma, previous psychological problems and coping styles, social factors of how
communities respond to the traumatic event, social support networks and socio-
cultural context. The following personality characteristics in an individual predisposes
them developing Acute or Post traumatic stress disorder, if the individual has anxiety,
dependence, lack of assertiveness, difficulty adjusting to new situations, an external
locus of control and negative cognitive appraisal of situations. Certain people may be
exposed to trauma and may present with the symptoms, however if they find that they
are able to manage and resolve the symptoms they may not fully develop PTSD.
THEME 2 - TRAUMA RELATED DISORDERS
QUESTION 1:
a) Discuss the aetiology of Acute and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (15)
Anxiety and stress are part of life and human existence. It is a normal response and
can serve as a driving force that leads to functional behaviour, since it triggers the
fight or flight response. When anxiety and stress reach a level of negative behaviour
and consequences we need to examine if it has developed into Acute and post
traumatic stress disorder. Diagnosis of acute and post traumatic stress disorder is not
always clear cut as various factors need to be taken into account. One of them being
that there may be other disorders that overlap for example; depression and obsessive
compulsive disorder. Below is the DSM 5 diagnostic criteria for acute and post
traumatic stress disorder (refer to tutorial letter PYC4802, 101, PAGE 54 - 58).
To be able to make a proper diagnosis one also needs to know the aetiology or
causation of Trauma Related Disorders. Let us first define what is a trauma. A trauma
is defined as an event that results in feelings of intense fear, helplessness or horror.
The emphasis is placed on the subjects’ response to the event rather than the event
itself. Some people develop the disorder after the trauma has been experienced while
some people don’t.
A persons’ response to a traumatic event is based on how one psychologically
processes the event. This is determined by his/her personal characteristics of previous
trauma, previous psychological problems and coping styles, social factors of how
communities respond to the traumatic event, social support networks and socio-
cultural context. The following personality characteristics in an individual predisposes
them developing Acute or Post traumatic stress disorder, if the individual has anxiety,
dependence, lack of assertiveness, difficulty adjusting to new situations, an external
locus of control and negative cognitive appraisal of situations. Certain people may be
exposed to trauma and may present with the symptoms, however if they find that they
are able to manage and resolve the symptoms they may not fully develop PTSD.
