Sandor's Case Study

Sandor appears to show multiple symptoms of PTSD as labeled in the DSM-5 when confronted with fire. To be diagnosed with PTSD a person must meet some specific requirements. The first set of requirements is to have been “expose[d] to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one (or more)” ways (Nolen-Hoeksema, S., 2014). Sandor directly experienced a traumatic event with fire, which led to serious injury. Half of his face was burned, giving his skin a melted appearance. Another criterion is the “presence of one (or more)…. intrusion symptoms associated with the traumatic event, beginning after the traumatic event has occurred” which in Sandor’s case would be “marked physiological reactions to...external cues that symbolize

He freezes up, panics and flees. He also expresses a persistent avoidance of conversations associated with the traumatic event, as seen in the aforementioned conversation between Petyr Baelish and Sansa Stark. Sandor would also have to display at least two “negative alternations in cognitions and mood associated with the traumatic event,” like his repeated negative emotional state and constant inability to experience or show positive emotions in his daily life. Sandor Clegane is not known for being happy nor does he express happiness or delight unless he is killing someone. He also displays “irritable behavior and angry outbursts (with little or no provocation) typically expressed as verbal or physical aggression toward people or objects,” (Nolen-Hoeksema, S., 2014). This is evidenced by his willingness and enjoyment in killing others, and his quick to anger mood. When talking to others he becomes easily irritable, and threatening. Since these symptoms still persist to this day as an adult, and the trauma occurred in early childhood, it is safe to say that the disturbances have occurred for longer than a month. These disturbances also lead to an occupational impairment, he abandoned his job to get away from the fire, and his fear of fire cannot be blamed on other substances like alcohol or other drugs (Nolen-Hoeksema, S.,

One such approach would be hypnotherapeutic techniques. This technique’s efficacy has not been decided by psychologists because this technique has “only recently been empirically studied,” (O'toole, S. K., Solomon, S. L., & Bergdahl, S. A., 2016). Hypnosis has shown to be effective in case studies involving Vietnam and Korean War veterans with PTSD, however they are “less compelling”. The study with hypnosis was shown to have a decrease in PTSD symptoms after treatment. Avoidance was shown to decrease drastically which would be helpful with Sandor Clegane’s symptoms (O'toole, S. K., Solomon, S. L., & Bergdahl, S. A.,