Post+Traumatic+Stress+Disorder+(PTSD)

Similarity - 15% Term: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD

Description: Post-traumatic stress disorder can be related to people who experience an event in their life that causes them to have the feeling that they are not in control and causes them to have an altered perception of life in a negative manner lasting past the time of the traumatic event. Essentially the person can experience PTSD during a major event in their life that has caused severe distress such as war or the death of a family member. It is important to remember that there is a difference between the normal experiences of shock to PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)).

Symptoms

The symptoms of PTSD are generally flashbacks results in a high state of awareness causing restlessness in sufferers of the disorder. Those with these symptoms often have difficulty interacting normally in society due to the anxiety caused by the significant event that triggered the original response.


 * Bad dreams
 * Flashbacks, or feeling like the scary event is happening again
 * Scary thoughts you can't control
 * Staying away from places and things that remind you of what happened
 * Feeling worried, guilty, or sad
 * Feeling alone
 * Trouble sleeping
 * Feeling on edge
 * Angry outbursts
 * Thoughts of hurting yourself or others.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Children who have PTSD may show other types of problems. These can include:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Behaving like they did when they were younger
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Being unable to talk
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Complaining of stomach problems or headaches a lot
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Refusing to go places or play with friends.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The US Department of Veteran Affairs lumps together the symptoms into 3 main clusters:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">What are the causes?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Re-experiencing. Examples include nightmares, unwanted thoughts of the traumatic events, and flashbacks.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Avoidance. Examples include avoiding triggers for traumatic memories including places, conversations, or other reminders. The avoidance may generalize to other previously enjoyable activities.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Hyperarousal. Examples include sleep problems, concentration problems, irritability, increased startle response, and hypervigilance.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Including, but not limited to:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Being a victim of or seeing violence
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The death or serious illness of a loved one
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">War or combat
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Car accidents and plane crashes
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Violent crimes, like a robbery or shooting.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Applications: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">In the health field providing care for patients outside of the health setting is very important and for something like PTSD it is important to give that patient the tools to help them cope with this disorder. Based on the application it helps patient by providing the resources that are necessary to help understand and track any noticeable signs that may be associated with PTSD. Also as technology becomes more advanced we have learned that helping out others through support groups can help patients feel that they are not alone and they have others to ask for help and guidance on to help them not feel as if they are isolated (PTSD: National Center for PTSD).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Commonly used medications:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">SSRI's as well as other mood stabilizers are the most common form of medication perscribed; with Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac being the top three (as well as the most officially recognized effective medicines according to the US Department of Veterans). Other medications that can be prescribed often have the patient go in for bloodwork to monitor how it's physically affecting the body. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">The most common medicines used for PTSD that require monitoring and/or bloodwork are:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Carbamazepine (Tegretol). Requires monitoring of white blood cell counts due to risk of agranulocytosis. Will self-induce its own metabolism and increase the metabolism of other medications including oral contraceptives.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Divalproex (Depakote). Requires monitoring of liver function tests due to risk of hepatotoxicity and platelet levels due to risk of thrombocytopenia. Target dosage is 10 times the patient's weight in pounds.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Lamotrigine (Lamictal). Requires slow titration according to the package insert due to risk of serious rash.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Topiramate (Topimax). Requires clinical monitoring for glaucoma, sedation, dizziness and ataxia.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Issues with treatment <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Just like with any other disease/illness there are barriers to effective treatment. These can include but aren't limited to:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Some of these can be avoided with something as simple as a pill organizer, making sure the patient is properly educated, and ensuring that the patient continues the proper course of treatment for them.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Fear of possible medication side effects including sexual side effects
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Feeling medication is a "crutch" and that taking it is a weakness
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Fear of becoming addicted to medications
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Taking the medication only occasionally when symptoms get severe
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Not being sure how to take the medication
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Keeping several pill bottles and not remembering when the last dosage was taken
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Using "self medication" with alcohol or drugs with prescribed medications\

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Web Resources: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posttraumatic_stress_disorder <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">http://www.medicinenet.com/posttraumatic_stress_disorder/article.htm <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/DS00246 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">http://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/post-traumatic-stress-disorder.htm <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/materials/apps/PTSDCoach.asp

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Related Terminology: Depression, Anger, Railway spine, stress syndrome, shell shock, battle fatigue, traumatic war neurosis, or post-traumatic stress syndrome

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Citations/References: Graphics from [] and <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">[] respectively.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2014. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">PTSD: National Center for PTSD. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2014. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/images/PTSDcoach-screenshot1.png (graphics)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Graphics: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">