NRNP 6645: Psychotherapy with Multiple Modalities August 01, 2024

NRNP 6645: Psychotherapy with Multiple Modalities August 01, 2024 2 Abstract What is trauma? What is traumatic? How can we justify and validate a traumatic event in an individual's life? Post-traumatic stress condition (PTSD) is a mental health concern that is growing and it is necessary to provide treatment to benefit the patient’s mental health. The purpose of this paper is to review a case study that reviews the neurological basis of PTSD, DSM-5 criteria for diagnosis, and effective treatments. 3 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Emotional distress may occur when involved or witnessing an incident where the individual perceives harm or near-death experience. These threats often include helplessness, anxiety, and fear. PTSD can be grouped into three categories, reminder of the incident, an activation which comprises irritability, insomnia, and agitation, and deactivation including symptoms of numbness, and, depression, avoidance. The symptoms must be present for a period of at least one month in patients that are children(Sherin & Nemeroff, 2011). There are several aspects of the brain that are involved in PTSD. The amygdala has multiple functions including the ability to obscure memories of stimuli that are considered fear- based. The amygdala plays a large part in overview, stimulation, and managing of rewards, which may be disrupted because of PTSD. Increased activity in the amygdala is often found in MRI studies of PTSD (Ousdal et al., 2020). Changes in neurotransmitters and hormonal functioning are also involved with PTSD. Individuals have low levels of cortisol and elevated levels of corticotropin-releasing factors even with continued stress. The CRF accelerates the secretion of norepinephrine leading to an increased response by the sympathetic system, where the individual experiences tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, and increased startle response. According to research, noted varied performance with other neurotransmitters including glutamate, serotonin, and GABA. Individuals that suffer from PTSD can have noted changes in their brain a natomy including reduction of the size of the hippocampus and amygdala is overactive. Another difference according to studies is the prefrontal cortex seems reduced and less reactive (Mann & Marwaha, 2021).