Post traumatic stress disorder is an
anxiety disorder which develops after any traumatic events. It is also known as railway spine, stress syndrome, traumatic war
neurosis, battle fatigue, shell shock
It is a chronic condition. The stressors of this disorder are death of loved ones, threat to someone else’s life, serious physical injury, unwanted sexual act.
Events which causes PTSD
- War
- Rape
- Kidnapping
- Natural disasters
- Car or plane crash
- Violent assault
- Sexual or physical abuse
- Medical procedures or surgeries
Signs and symptoms
- Experiencing the original trauma through flashbacks or night mares
- Avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma like staying away from places and things that remind of the trauma.
- Difficulty in falling asleep
- Feeling alone
- Feeling of intense stress
- Feeling guilty, sadness and worrying
- Anger
- Mistrust
- Headaches
- Chest pain
- Difficulty in concentration
- Depression
- Hopelessness
- Increased physical reactions like pounding heart, rapid breathing, nausea, muscle tension, sweating
- Hypervigilance
- Impairment in social, occupational and other areas of functioning like problems with work and relationship
Treatment:
- Psychotherapy
- Cognitive therapy
- Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
- Family therapy
- Medications like antidepressants like fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, clonidine, propranalol.
- Mood stabilizers like lamotogrine, tiagabine, divalproex sodium.
- Antipsychotics like risperidone, olanzapine, quatiapine
- Benzodiazepines can be given.
- Reduction of stress by relaxation techniques like breathing exercises, positive imaginations.
- Exercises
- Minimizing negative lifestyle practices like substance abuse, suicidal behaviors