100%
PYC4802
EXAM PACK
DISTINCTION QUALITY
UNISA EXAM
,PYC4802 EXAM ANSWERS
SECTION B
Question 3
Theme 2 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
a) Briefly describe the diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (10)
b) Discuss the diagnosis of PTSD with regard to the following aspects:
• Developmental stage
• .. Co-morbidity
• Delayed onset
• Socio-economic status
• Substance abuse
• The culture of violence in SA
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 througli intrusive and distressing recollections of the event,
dissociative reactions such as flashbacks in which the individual feels or acts if the traumatic
event(s) were recurring, nightmares relating to the traumatic event(s), intei e physiological
reactivity or distress when exposed to reminders of the event.
Thirdly, Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning
after the 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 evidenced by two or more of the following: inability to remember 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 about oneself, others, or the world; persistent distorted cognitions about the cause
, or 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
expedience 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 controlJ over aggressive
1
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 of 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.
f
Co-morbidity ’$
Individuals with PTSD often suffer from other 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 might create a problem for clinicians to distinguish PTSD
symptoms from symptoms of coexisting psychic disorders.
Delayed onset
The delayed onset of PTSD is a subtype of posttraumatic stress disorder where the full
diagnosis of the disorder is made only after at least 6 months have passed since the exposure to
the traumatic event(s) because the patient may display symptoms of PTSD, but not all which
would constitute them a full diagnosis of PTSD. The onset and expression of some symptoms
may be immediate.
Socio-economic status
, Environmental demands may differ between groups such that they are either variously more
predisposed to, or more protected from, certain disorders than other groups. People in
disadvantaged groups, who may be of lower socio-economic and educationa status, are more
likely to have a stressful environment such as an unsafe neighbourhood, and to experience
chronic and pervasive anxiousness.
Substance abuse
Post-traumatic stress disorder has emerged as a common co-occurring diagnosis among substance
abusers. In reference to PTSD as the co-existing disorder, it is hypothesised that PTSD develops
first and that chemical substance are used as a means of achieving symptom relief. An investigation
of PTSD among substance users from the general population shows that the onset of substance use
precedes the onset of PTSD symptoms. It may be that early substance abuse occurs in the context
of other 'high risk1 behaviours (e.g., prostitution), which increase the likelihood of exposure to
potentially traumatizing events (e.g., being seriously beaten or injured) and, hence, the likelihood of
developing PTSD. Individuals who began abusing substances at an early age may also be more
susceptible to developing PTSD following traumatic exposure because they have historically relied
on alcohol and drugs as a way to combat stress and have failed to develop mp e effective stress
inoculation strategies.
The culture of violence in SA
The high levels of crime, violence, and accidents in South Africa have a special bearing on
anxiety disorders that develop in response to trauma exposure. Reviews of the frequency of
traumatic events and the corresponding prevalence of reported PTSD symptoms in the South
African population highlight these problems as urgent psychological concerns. Human caused
traumatic events such as assaults and murder have a more powerful impact than accidents and
natural disasters. Among crime victims, individuals who have suffered more brutal trauma
have higher frequencies of PTSD. Most crime victims do have some initial PTSD symptoms
that subside over time.
Question 4
Theme 3 Substance-Related. Disorders
i
a) Describe some of the negative effects of parental substance abuse on the children (8)
b) Show how these effects come about through a process of co-dependence (10)
c) Also show how the process of co-dependence helps to maintain the substance abuse (7) ■
[25]
Answer
PYC4802
EXAM PACK
DISTINCTION QUALITY
UNISA EXAM
,PYC4802 EXAM ANSWERS
SECTION B
Question 3
Theme 2 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
a) Briefly describe the diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (10)
b) Discuss the diagnosis of PTSD with regard to the following aspects:
• Developmental stage
• .. Co-morbidity
• Delayed onset
• Socio-economic status
• Substance abuse
• The culture of violence in SA
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 througli intrusive and distressing recollections of the event,
dissociative reactions such as flashbacks in which the individual feels or acts if the traumatic
event(s) were recurring, nightmares relating to the traumatic event(s), intei e physiological
reactivity or distress when exposed to reminders of the event.
Thirdly, Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning
after the 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 evidenced by two or more of the following: inability to remember 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 about oneself, others, or the world; persistent distorted cognitions about the cause
, or 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
expedience 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 controlJ over aggressive
1
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 of 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.
f
Co-morbidity ’$
Individuals with PTSD often suffer from other 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 might create a problem for clinicians to distinguish PTSD
symptoms from symptoms of coexisting psychic disorders.
Delayed onset
The delayed onset of PTSD is a subtype of posttraumatic stress disorder where the full
diagnosis of the disorder is made only after at least 6 months have passed since the exposure to
the traumatic event(s) because the patient may display symptoms of PTSD, but not all which
would constitute them a full diagnosis of PTSD. The onset and expression of some symptoms
may be immediate.
Socio-economic status
, Environmental demands may differ between groups such that they are either variously more
predisposed to, or more protected from, certain disorders than other groups. People in
disadvantaged groups, who may be of lower socio-economic and educationa status, are more
likely to have a stressful environment such as an unsafe neighbourhood, and to experience
chronic and pervasive anxiousness.
Substance abuse
Post-traumatic stress disorder has emerged as a common co-occurring diagnosis among substance
abusers. In reference to PTSD as the co-existing disorder, it is hypothesised that PTSD develops
first and that chemical substance are used as a means of achieving symptom relief. An investigation
of PTSD among substance users from the general population shows that the onset of substance use
precedes the onset of PTSD symptoms. It may be that early substance abuse occurs in the context
of other 'high risk1 behaviours (e.g., prostitution), which increase the likelihood of exposure to
potentially traumatizing events (e.g., being seriously beaten or injured) and, hence, the likelihood of
developing PTSD. Individuals who began abusing substances at an early age may also be more
susceptible to developing PTSD following traumatic exposure because they have historically relied
on alcohol and drugs as a way to combat stress and have failed to develop mp e effective stress
inoculation strategies.
The culture of violence in SA
The high levels of crime, violence, and accidents in South Africa have a special bearing on
anxiety disorders that develop in response to trauma exposure. Reviews of the frequency of
traumatic events and the corresponding prevalence of reported PTSD symptoms in the South
African population highlight these problems as urgent psychological concerns. Human caused
traumatic events such as assaults and murder have a more powerful impact than accidents and
natural disasters. Among crime victims, individuals who have suffered more brutal trauma
have higher frequencies of PTSD. Most crime victims do have some initial PTSD symptoms
that subside over time.
Question 4
Theme 3 Substance-Related. Disorders
i
a) Describe some of the negative effects of parental substance abuse on the children (8)
b) Show how these effects come about through a process of co-dependence (10)
c) Also show how the process of co-dependence helps to maintain the substance abuse (7) ■
[25]
Answer
