Treatment programs
disorders treated
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Quick facts
PTSD is a disorder that has been recognised since ancient times. Medical literature refers to the PTSD type symptoms of "DaCosta's Sydrome" from the American civil war. It has been more thoroughly investigated however, in recent years, and particularly since the Vietnam War.
The estimated lifetime prevalence of PTSD among adults is approximately 8%, with women twice as likely as men to develop PTSD at some point in their lives. With the rise in crime, and continued prevalence of domestic violence, war, natural disasters, and various forms of accidents, this figure can only be expected to rise.
The most frequently experienced traumas include involvement in a life-threatening attack or accident, natural or man made disaster, witnessing an accident where someone is killed or injured, and war. It is common for these people to report four or more types of trauma during their lifetimes.
signs and symptoms
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) describes the development of characteristic symptoms and behaviour following a psychologically traumatic event that is generally outside the range of usual human experience. These stress-related symptoms may persist over years or may be 'reactivated' after a considerable period of time.
The PTSD diagnosis recognises that (when exposed to sufficient stress) almost any person may develop PTSD symptoms. While your pre-trauma personality, belief system and values do affect your reaction and interpretation of the traumatic event, the trauma experience also modifies personalities.
It is important to remember that not all cases of PTSD are the same. Its symptoms differ as a result of individual personalities, belief systems, culture, and meanings ascribed to the traumatic event. Its symptoms may be mild, moderate or sever. The important question to ask is 'How much does it interfere with my life?'
Survivors of natural disasters are believed to fare better compared to survivors of man-made catastrophes. It has been argued that this is because natural disaster survivors are less likely to lose their trust in other humans and society compared with survivors of man made disasters. Survivors of natural disasters tend to be less stigmatised eg. They tend to be spared the 'blame the victim' attitude that often afflicts survivors of man-made disaster.
Survivors of man-made disasters may be seen by others as lacking in strength, caution, moral integrity, and intelligence - such untrue and un-supportive messages are part of a process known as secondary wounding.
The severity and type of symptoms of PTSD may also be influenced by whether you experienced the trauma once or many times. The difference between the frequency or occurrence can be related to recovery time. Eg. Single trauma survivors tend to recover faster than multiple trauma survivors.
There may be a general deterioration in social, occupational or family functioning. Some consequences of PTSD include difficulties with relationships, loss of job, self destructive or impulsive behaviour, loss of self-esteem, social withdrawal and depression.
Associated Symptoms
Anxiety
Often present are the feelings of being generally stressed and fearful with symptoms such as panic and light headedness, shaking palpitations, shortness of breath, tight chest and stomach churning
Depression
It is not uncommon for individuals experiencing PTSD coupled with an ever-increasing impairment of their lives to become depressed. Symptoms may include loss of interest and pleasure in life with depressed mood, feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, a loss of energy and drive, difficulty with concentration and memory, suicidal thoughts, poor sleep, loss of appetite for both food and sex and sometimes marked changes in mood during the day.
Development of Dependency
Often as a form of avoidance in 'numbing dependency behaviour may be associated. Dependency to alcohol or other substances may be evident, or behaviour such as gambling or high risk behaviours.
Guilt
Over the traumatic events or being a survivor of the traumatic events is often a feature.
Further reading:
- http://www.ncptsd.org/facts/general/fs_what_is_ptsd.html
- National Institute of Mental Health — Publications
In many cases, PTSD can be successfully treated using a combination of medication and psychotherapy. At the very least, in most cases, improvement to symptoms can be achieved.
The most promising treatment approaches is cognitive behavioural therapy which emphasises exposure to the triggers likely to set off the symptoms. Exposure treatment for PTSD involves repeated reliving of the trauma, with the aim of facilitating the processing of the trauma. Here, the concurrent use of medication helps to ease off the symptoms of anxiety and depression and may help with improving sleep patterns.
Treatment of PTSD also recognises the importance of the social systems of the person. Family and Supporters are therefore often offered contact and some inclusion in the educational process.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Program
Thorough psychiatric assessment is part of the initial treatment process. Two initial individual sessions act as an assessment/education phase, with the option of the third group session involving family/supporters. It is often extremely difficult for the person suffering from PTSD to accept treatment and this introductory phase is aimed at providing support as well as assessment.
This is followed by the Intensive CBT Group 10 day programme (Blue Group) to provide the foundation of skills needed to treat the PTSD symptoms. (see xxxx for more information on CBT programme). If stabilisation of acute symptoms is necessary, involvement in an Acute Phase treatment may also be recommended prior to the commencement of the CBT group.
Follow-up is to three months post group and is both 1 : 1 PTSD specific, and follow-up groups at 6-weeks and 12-weeks related to the CBT (Blue) group.
If more family involvement is deemed useful, family education groups may be recommended when available as an excellent option to assist the family in understanding both the problems around PTSD and the treatment involved.
The opportunity for up to six individual treatment sessions is made available following the CBT group involvement.