A study published in Current Psychiatric Reports in 2016 approached the topic of the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after incidences of trauma (Qi, Gevonden and Shalev). The link to the article is http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4723637/. PTSD as a result of various types of traumas may result in different levels of disability. As methods of recognition improve, the numbers of diagnosed PTSD sufferers continue to rise. Subsequently, the research exploring causes, prevention, and treatment has become the most widely addressed post-traumatic topic and has evolved into an actual PTSD psychopathology. However, treatment options remain inconsistent for application. The article by Qi, Govonden, and Shalev discusses the disorder, associated theories of intervention, and recommendations for future research. The important conclusion of the authors relates to a general picture of the ineffectiveness of treatment options for PTDS and suggestions for improvement.
The symptoms relating to post-traumatic stress disorder are associated with the traumatic event and are unrelenting in endurance and severity. Originally brought to the attention of the public, the diagnosis of PTSD is now applied to people who experience childhood abuse, rape, natural disasters, and combat situations such as military personnel. It is estimated that 5 percent of all men and 10 percent of all women will suffer from the disorder at some point in their lifetime (Kar 167). Other disorders become apparent with persistent PTSD; these may include insomnia, paranoia, uncontrolled anger, depression and suicidal tendencies, deteriorating health, destruction of personal relationships, and loss of the ability to hold a job. While PTSD is similar to other types of mental illnesses in presentation, but is unique in that it is triggered by a single event.
Emergency workers at disasters have the opportunity to recognize symptoms of PTSD in survivors and initiate preventive or early intervention measures. Despite this, preventative treatment is inhibited by a lack of understanding of the pathogenesis of the disorder. Since signs of stress are highly individualized, the detection of a victim at risk in inefficient. Even in the instance where an emergency worker may identify a potential PTSD victim, continuing hostilities may prevent immediate intervention. Later recognition of PTSD in an individual may require the adequate taking of a patient’s history, which is not always possible. In that event, the treatments for PTSD do not respond to traditional therapies for anxiety or depression. There are a large number of risk factors identified for PTSD, promoting early intervention to reduce or eliminate symptoms of the disorder. Aside of being present during the traumatic event, there are individual predispositions to development of PTSD including genetics, physiology, prior history of psychiatric illness, stressful lifestyle, degree of social support, and previous exposure to trauma. Another challenge for establishing a diagnosis of PTSD is that some trauma survivors develop few symptoms which may resolve spontaneously or continue on an intermittent basis. The patients who demonstrated long-term and destructive symptoms are in the minority, but their disability is so severe they may struggle for years with coping.
Finding effective treatment for severe and recurring symptoms of PTSD has remained elusive. There are three primary methods of therapy currently in use: medication, cognitive behavior therapy, and counseling for changes in lifestyle. Drugs may be effective alone or in combination with other treatments. The only two medications approved for use with PTSD patients in the United States are Zoloft (sertraine) and Paxil (paroxzetine). Both are antidepressants designed to decrease feeling of anxiety in order to allow psychotherapy to have an impact on behavior. According to the textbook Abnormal Psychology, the ability of antidepressants to alter the mental states of PTSD patients is primarily due to treatment of associated depression (Oltmanns 184-185). According to Oltmanns, the use of traditional drugs for the treatment of anxiety are not effective with PTSD patients and only approximately 30 percent of severely affected patients recover.
Pharmacologic assistance promotes the effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy. The therapy repetitively exposes the patient to the traumatic memories of the event in order to desensitize his emotions. Oltmanns states that exposure therapy is the only type he recommends for PTSD patients (Oltmanns 184-185). Relaxation techniques, group and personal counseling, and training in coping skills are included. In addition, evaluation of the patient’s lifestyle promotes decreased intake of caffeine or other stimulants, and minimal recreational drugs and alcohol. All types of exercise are encouraged for stress relief and massage therapy, keeping a journal, and acupunction have been shown to assist in control of symptoms.
In conclusion, the article by Qi, Gevonden and Shalev proposes that while research is progressing on effective treatment for PTSD, it is essential for therapists to evaluate the individual needs and risks of the patient. For this to occur, it is essential to match the criteria of the patient with current findings for treatment options. Health care professionals should step past basic screening procedures and create more accurate clinical treatment strategies. The heterogeneity of trauma survivors dictates a radically different approach for assistance to the patient suffering from any degree of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Works Cited
Kar, Nilamadhab. "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder: A Review". NDT (2011): 167. Web. 26 May 2016.
Oltmanns, Thomas F. Abnormal Psychology. 8th ed. VitalSource Bookshelf online, 2015. Web.
Qi, Wei, Martin Gevonden, and Arieh Shalev. "Prevention of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
After Trauma: Current Evidence and Future Directions". Current Psychiatry Reports 18.2
(2016): n. pag. Web. 25 May 2016.
