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In order to avoid over-diagnosing these diseases, the D.S.M. 5 specifies some characteristics of
the traumatic event that make it not suitable for the diagnosis:
Learning that person has a life-threatening or debilitating but not traumatic disease (such as
cancer)
The differences between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder are, most of
all, time-related. Acute Stress Disorder is characterized by the fact that symptoms must begin
within 4 weeks of the traumatic event, and they must last less than 4 weeks. In the case of PostTraumatic Stress Disorder, symptoms persist longer than 4 weeks and they may appear within
hours, days, months or years of the trauma.
Other differences between the two diseases are prognosis-related. It is a well-known fact that the
prognosis of Acute Stress Disorder is much better than the one of Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder. In the case of the first, the recovery rate is about 90% of individuals meeting criteria
for the diagnosis. The latter, as mentioned before, has a worse prognostic, with the recovery rate
of only 50% within 6 months. Also, about 30% of patients will still report significant symptoms
6 years post-trauma. (Comer, 2013)
There are some risk factors that make certain traumatic events result in disease. These factors
could be:
Environmental:
Regarding the treatment of these mental illnesses, there is a variety of options available. First of
all, it is recommended that the person at risk follows immediate therapy and emotional support,
in order to prevent the development of a full-blown P.T.S.D. Other than that, there are a lot of
various therapeutic techniques utilized, depending on the type of trauma, individual
characteristics and coping skills. These include: medication, behavioral exposure techniques
like flooding or trauma desensitization, meditation, eye movement therapy, group therapy and
family therapy.
6. Adjustment Disorders
Adjustment Disorders, the last stress-related disorders included in the D.S.M.5, involve
maladaptive behaviors in response to identifiable common psycho-social stressors, such as
marital difficulties, separation or divorce, finances, work or illness, or related to major life events
such as marriage, first employment or retirement. The characteristic symptoms of Adjustment
Disorders occur within a 3-month period of the onset of the stressor and resolve within 6 months
of its termination. (Comer, 2013)
7. Conclusion
Successful treatment of stress-related disorders includes a process of integration which allows
the trauma to become a part of normal memory, and no longer interfere with an individuals
normal life. (http://psychcentral.com)
8. References:
Diac Sabina Ana
Stress Idea, research and experience
Press
http://psychcentral.com/lib/understanding-the-effects-of-trauma-post-traumaticstress-disorder-ptsd/