1
Week 9: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Walden university
NRNP 6645: Psychotherapy with Multiple Modalities
, 2
What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is defined in the DSM 5 as an anxiety disorder that
develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event that may be life-threatening, cause
serious physical injury, or be sexually violent. Emotional responses to the traumatic event may
include fear, helplessness, and anxiety. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) (2013)
criteria for diagnosis of PTSD includes:
a. Experiencing a traumatic event; witnessing a traumatic event; learning about a
traumatic event to a close friend or family member; experiencing repeated
memories of the traumatic event.
b. Presence of intrusive symptoms such as distressing memories and flashbacks of a
traumatic event. Significant physical and psychological reaction to internal and
external reminders of a traumatic event
c. Continued avoidance of distressing triggers of a traumatic event, i.e., people,
places, objects, situations
d. Negative changes to cognition such as poor memory recall, cognitive distortions,
negative emotional state, decreased participation in social events
e. Increased arousal and reactivity beyond reason that began or worsened after
experiencing a traumatic event.
f. Disturbances have lasted greater than one month, but PTSD can develop almost
immediately.
g. Impairment in social and occupational functioning for at least one month
h. Disturbances are not explained by other causes such as medications or mental
illness.
Posttraumatic stress disorder criteria are for children ages six and through adulthood. Diagnostic
criteria for children less than six years of age do slightly differ. The purpose of this assignment is
to discuss the neurological basis of PTSD, review a case presentation for appropriate diagnosis
of PTSD, and discuss appropriate psychotherapy treatment.
Neurological Basis of PTSD
PTSD has a neurological basis, and it is hypothesized that traumatic events trigger a fear
processing pathway that disrupts the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and
hypothalamus (Rousseau et al., 2019). This disruption causes an increased amygdala activation,
Week 9: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Walden university
NRNP 6645: Psychotherapy with Multiple Modalities
, 2
What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is defined in the DSM 5 as an anxiety disorder that
develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event that may be life-threatening, cause
serious physical injury, or be sexually violent. Emotional responses to the traumatic event may
include fear, helplessness, and anxiety. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) (2013)
criteria for diagnosis of PTSD includes:
a. Experiencing a traumatic event; witnessing a traumatic event; learning about a
traumatic event to a close friend or family member; experiencing repeated
memories of the traumatic event.
b. Presence of intrusive symptoms such as distressing memories and flashbacks of a
traumatic event. Significant physical and psychological reaction to internal and
external reminders of a traumatic event
c. Continued avoidance of distressing triggers of a traumatic event, i.e., people,
places, objects, situations
d. Negative changes to cognition such as poor memory recall, cognitive distortions,
negative emotional state, decreased participation in social events
e. Increased arousal and reactivity beyond reason that began or worsened after
experiencing a traumatic event.
f. Disturbances have lasted greater than one month, but PTSD can develop almost
immediately.
g. Impairment in social and occupational functioning for at least one month
h. Disturbances are not explained by other causes such as medications or mental
illness.
Posttraumatic stress disorder criteria are for children ages six and through adulthood. Diagnostic
criteria for children less than six years of age do slightly differ. The purpose of this assignment is
to discuss the neurological basis of PTSD, review a case presentation for appropriate diagnosis
of PTSD, and discuss appropriate psychotherapy treatment.
Neurological Basis of PTSD
PTSD has a neurological basis, and it is hypothesized that traumatic events trigger a fear
processing pathway that disrupts the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and
hypothalamus (Rousseau et al., 2019). This disruption causes an increased amygdala activation,
