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PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Exam questions and answers
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POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
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QUESTION 1 (OCT/NOV 2011)
ANSWER:
A). Firstly, a person must have been exposed to actual or threatened death,
serious injury, or sexual violence in one or more of the following ways: directly
experiencing the traumatic event(s); witnessing in person the event(s) as it
occurs to others; learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family
member or close friend; experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive
details of the traumatic event(s). (Not including electronic media for people who
don’t work in that profession).
Secondly, The trauma is relived through intrusive and distressing recollections of
the event, dissociative reactions such as flashbacks in which the individual feels
or acts as if the traumatic event(s) were recurring, nightmares relating to the
traumatic event(s), intense physiological reactivity or distress when exposed to
reminders of the event.
Thirdly, Persistence avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s),
beginning after traumatic event(s) occurred. People may withdraw emotionally
and may avoid anything that might remind them of the event(s).
Fourthly, Negative alterations in cognitions and mood associated with the
traumatic event(s), as evidence by two or more of the following : inability to
remember an important an important aspect of the traumatic event(s) (typically
due to dissociative amnesia and not to other factors such as head injury, alcohol
or drugs); persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or expectations of oneself,
others, or the world; persistent distorted cognitions about the cause or
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consequences of the traumatic event(s) that lead the individual to blame him or
herself or others; markedly diminished interest or participation in significant
activities; persistent negative emotional state; feelings of detachment or
estrangement from others; persistent inability to experience positive emotions.
Fifthly, heightened autonomic arousal where this reaction can include two or
more symptoms such as sleep disturbance, hypervigilance, irritability, reckless or
self destructive behaviour, exaggerated startle response, problems concentrating,
and poor control over aggressive impulses.
The duration of disturbance is more than 1 month. The disturbance causes
clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other
important areas of functioning. The disturbance is not attributable to the
physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition.
B). The diagnosis of PTSD
Developmental stage
The onset of PTSD starts after exposure to an extreme stressor such as one
that is life-threatening. ASD can develop after at least 3 days and shouldn’t last
for more than a month, otherwise a diagnosis of PTSD should be considered. If
the symptoms develop within a period of six months and persist for a period
for up to six months after the event, it is an indication of acute PTSD. If the
disorder lasts longer, that is an indication of a diagnosis of chronic PTSD.
Co-morbidity
Individuals with PTSD often suffer from psychiatric conditions. Children with
PTSD also have fairly high rates of psychiatric co-morbidity. Co-morbidity may
include: Alcohol and Drug abuse, Personality Disorder, General Anxiety
Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Schizophrenia etc. Occasionally it
PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
Exam questions and answers
, 2
POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
, 3
QUESTION 1 (OCT/NOV 2011)
ANSWER:
A). Firstly, a person must have been exposed to actual or threatened death,
serious injury, or sexual violence in one or more of the following ways: directly
experiencing the traumatic event(s); witnessing in person the event(s) as it
occurs to others; learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family
member or close friend; experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive
details of the traumatic event(s). (Not including electronic media for people who
don’t work in that profession).
Secondly, The trauma is relived through intrusive and distressing recollections of
the event, dissociative reactions such as flashbacks in which the individual feels
or acts as if the traumatic event(s) were recurring, nightmares relating to the
traumatic event(s), intense physiological reactivity or distress when exposed to
reminders of the event.
Thirdly, Persistence avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s),
beginning after traumatic event(s) occurred. People may withdraw emotionally
and may avoid anything that might remind them of the event(s).
Fourthly, Negative alterations in cognitions and mood associated with the
traumatic event(s), as evidence by two or more of the following : inability to
remember an important an important aspect of the traumatic event(s) (typically
due to dissociative amnesia and not to other factors such as head injury, alcohol
or drugs); persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or expectations of oneself,
others, or the world; persistent distorted cognitions about the cause or
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consequences of the traumatic event(s) that lead the individual to blame him or
herself or others; markedly diminished interest or participation in significant
activities; persistent negative emotional state; feelings of detachment or
estrangement from others; persistent inability to experience positive emotions.
Fifthly, heightened autonomic arousal where this reaction can include two or
more symptoms such as sleep disturbance, hypervigilance, irritability, reckless or
self destructive behaviour, exaggerated startle response, problems concentrating,
and poor control over aggressive impulses.
The duration of disturbance is more than 1 month. The disturbance causes
clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other
important areas of functioning. The disturbance is not attributable to the
physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition.
B). The diagnosis of PTSD
Developmental stage
The onset of PTSD starts after exposure to an extreme stressor such as one
that is life-threatening. ASD can develop after at least 3 days and shouldn’t last
for more than a month, otherwise a diagnosis of PTSD should be considered. If
the symptoms develop within a period of six months and persist for a period
for up to six months after the event, it is an indication of acute PTSD. If the
disorder lasts longer, that is an indication of a diagnosis of chronic PTSD.
Co-morbidity
Individuals with PTSD often suffer from psychiatric conditions. Children with
PTSD also have fairly high rates of psychiatric co-morbidity. Co-morbidity may
include: Alcohol and Drug abuse, Personality Disorder, General Anxiety
Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Schizophrenia etc. Occasionally it
