Runninghead: POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) IN VETERANS Assignment #2: Library Research Paper Gemma K. Vizcocho University of Southern California Professor Laura Gale, MSW, LCSW April 26, 2017 Abstract The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in more than 1.4 million U.S military service members being deployed in combat, with 37% having deployed at least twice (Department of Defense, 2009). Many service members are returning from combat with an array of negative health issues associated with combat such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Findings suggest that at least 9% of returning service members screen positive for PTSD (Taber and Hurley, 2009). Treatments for combat-related …show more content…
J Psychiatr Res. 1975;12:189-198. · Rovner BW, Folstein MF. Mini-mental state exam in clinical practice. Hosp Pract. 1987;22(1A):99, 103, 106, 110. · Tombaugh TN, McIntyre NJ. The mini-mental state examination: a comprehensive review. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1992;40(9):922-935. Source: www.medicine.uiowa.edu/igec/tools/cognitive/MMSE.pdf Provided by NHCQF, 0106-410 PTSD CheckList – Civilian Version (PCL-C) Below is a list of problems and complaints that people sometimes have in response to stressful life experiences. Please read each one carefully, pick the answer that indicates how much you have been bothered by that problem in the last month. No. Response Not at all (1) A little bit (2) Moderately (3) Quite a bit (4) Extremely (5) 1. Repeated, disturbing memories, thoughts, or images of a stressful experience from the past? 2. Repeated, disturbing dreams of a stressful experience from the …show more content…
17. Feeling jumpy or easily startled? PCL-M for DSM-IV (11/1/94) Weathers, Litz, Huska, & Keane National Center for PTSD-Behavioral Science Div. Two versions of the PCL exist: 1) PCL-M is specific to PTSD caused by military experiences and 2) PCL-C is applied generally to any traumatic event. DHCC Clinicians Helpline: 1 (866) 559-1627 DSN: 662-6563 www.PDHealth.mil How is the PCL Scored? 1) Add up all items from each of the 17 items for a total severity score (range = 17-85) 17-29 This cut off shows little to no severity. 28-29 Some PTSD symptoms - If you are seeing or will be seeing a therapist, print the results of this Quiz and take to your therapist for further evaluation. 30–44 Moderate to Moderately High severity of PTSD symptoms - If you are seeing or will be seeing a therapist, print the results of this Quiz and take to your therapist for further evaluation. 45-85 High Severity of PTSD symptoms - If you are seeing or will be seeing a therapist, print the results of this Quiz and take to your therapist for further evaluation. Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) About: This scale is a self-report measure of anxiety. Items: 21
James was a Marine right out of his second tour of Iraq, during which he faced a bloody
The Vietnam War caused many U.S. soldiers to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, so when is the war over, is it really over? For soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, the war may not ever be over. Doctors are on the peak of finding treatments for the ones affected by PTSD and how to prevent it from occurring or even helping them to recover from PTSD has major affects on Vietnam soldiers, their family members and today’s society.
Friedman, Mathew J., MD, PhD. "PTSD History and Overview." PTSD: National Center for PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 31 Jan. 2007. Web. 03 Dec. 2013.
Individuals demonstrate PTSD with symptoms, such as: flashbacks, severe paranoia, insomnia, social isolation, self destructive behavior, emotional detachment, fear, severe anxiety, and etc. According to statistics, individuals with severe PTSD are at high risk for committing suicide. Veterans are more prone to this disorder due to the fact that they are emotionally unstable and have difficulties re-adjusting to a normal life once they come back from combat.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), originally associated with combat, has always been around in some shape or form but it was not until 1980 that it was named Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and became an accredited diagnosis (Rothschild). The fact is PTSD is one of many names for an old problem; that war has always had a severe psychological impact on people in immediate and lasting ways. PTSD has a history that is as long and significant as the world’s war history - thousands of years. Although, the diagnosis has not been around for that long, different names and symptoms of PTSD always have been. Some physical symptoms include increased blood pressure, excessive heart rate, rapid breathing, muscle tension, nausea, diarrhea, problems with vision, speech, walking disorders, convulsive vomiting, cardiac palpitations, twitching or spasms, weakness and severe muscular cramps. The individual may also suffer from psychological symptoms, such as violent nightmares, flashbacks, melancholy, disturbed sleep or insomnia, loss of appetite, and anxieties when certain things remind them such as the anniversary date of the event (Peterson, 2009).
The current criteria for assessment of PTSD is only suitable if criterion A is met. Every symptom must be bound to the traumatic event through temporal and/or contextual evidence. The DSM-5 stipulates that to qualify, the symptoms must begin (criterion B or C) or worsen (symptom D and E) after the traumatic event. Even though symptoms must be linked to a traumatic event, this linking does not imply causality or etiology (Pai, 2017, p.4). The changes made with the DSM-5 included increasing the number of symptom groups from three to four and the number of symptoms from 17 to 20. The symptom groups are intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and alterations in arousal and
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is defined by our book, Abnormal Psychology, as “an extreme response to a severe stressor, including increased anxiety, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, and symptoms of increased arousal.” In the diagnosis of PTSD, a person must have experienced an serious trauma; including “actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violation.” In the DSM-5, symptoms for PTSD are grouped in four categories. First being intrusively reexperiencing the traumatic event. The person may have recurring memories of the event and may be intensely upset by reminders of the event. Secondly, avoidance of stimuli associated with the event, either internally or externally. Third, signs of mood and cognitive change after the trauma. This includes blaming the self or others for the event and feeling detached from others. The last category is symptoms of increased arousal and reactivity. The person may experience self-destructive behavior and sleep disturbance. The person must have 1 symptom from the first category, 1 from the second, at least 2 from the third, and at least 2 from the fourth. The symptoms began or worsened after the trauma(s) and continued for at least one
7)PTSD Diagnostic Criteria from the DSM-IV, from Bully Online, a service of the United Kingdom National Workplace Bullying Advice Line.
PTSD in Service Members and New Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. (2009). PTSD Research Quarterly, 20(10501835), 1-8. Retrieved April 29, 2014, from http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/newsletters/research-quarterly/V20N1.pdf
There are a large number of symptoms of PTSD. The Veterans symptoms can be identical to those symptoms experienced when the actual trauma was occurring (Panzarino). "[symptoms include] May be prone to insomnia, irritability, or outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, and an exaggerated startled response when shocked" (USA Today Magazine). Michael Wheeler, a Vietnam veteran, is divorced because of PTSD, he was having thoughts of suicide, he couldn't handle life, he thought he was going crazy (Block, Norris). More symptoms are night terrors (dreams), flashbacks, and recurrent/intrusive thoughts of traumatic events (USA Today Magazine). "Many PTSD sufferers develop depression and anxiety or obsessive/compulsive disorder, in addition to alcohol or drug problems" (USA Today Magazine).
The diagnosis of Post –Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) involves clusters of symptoms. They include persistent re-experiencing of the trauma, avoidance of traumatic reminders/ general numbing of emotional responsiveness, and hyper-arousal (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). In order for the possible diagnosis of PTSD the individual needs to have exposed to a
"PTSD: National Center for PTSD Home." National Center for PTSD. VA Health Care, 1 Jan.
What are the symptoms of PTSD? There a many symptoms to PTSD so they were are put into categories. Some say there are three categories in which PTSD can be grouped and others say there are four categories. They all agree on these three groups so I’m going to give you those.
Kahn, Ada P., and Jan Fawcett. The Encyclopedia of Mental Health. 2nd ed. New York: Facts On File, 2001.
The mental status exam investigates global and limbic brain functions, left and right parietal functionality and language. This is achieved through tests such as, level of consciousness, memory, and language assessment (Blumenfeld, 2010). Yanagawa and Miyawaki (2012) highlight the importance of obtaining reports from witnesses to assist with a mental status examination. They state that pre-hospital patients can deteriorate quickly into unconsciousness, limiting the ability for para...