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HM540

Unit3 DQ 1,2

Topic 1: ASD Versus PTSD

Describe the difference between acute stress disorder (ASD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and include how stress and trauma interact with ASD and PTSD. Why do you think many practitioners misdiagnose these two conditions?

Respond Kindly to Student #1

Travis Reed

Hello Y’all

The differences between Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are rooted in the duration of symptoms, treatment options employed to address each disorder, and symptoms experienced. Symptoms of ASD last between three days and four weeks following the occurrence of a traumatic condition. On the other hand, symptoms of PTSD last for at least one month and, on some occasions, persist for several years (Wright et al., 2019). Also, antidepressant medication and short-term psychotherapy are the common treatments utilized to address ASD. On the other hand, Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, long-term psychotherapy, and medication help in relieving PTSD symptoms. Lastly, based on the symptoms experienced, ASD is normally characterized by dissociative symptoms. On the other hand, PTSD involves heightened arousal, marked changes in cognition and mood, avoidance, and re-experiencing. Lastly, trauma and stress lead to flashbacks and nightmares in individuals with PSTD, thus making them numb or experiencing detachment conditions (Haruvi-Lamdan et al., 2020). On the other hand, stress and trauma make individuals with ASD have low mood, poor concentration, and irritability conditions, which last for utmost a month. Many practitioners misdiagnose ASD and PTSD because both conditions result from being exposed to or experiencing trauma, resulting in shared symptoms such as avoidance of triggering people, events, or situations. The questions to the individual with PTSD include how often they think about the event and whether they ever get flashbacks.

References

Haruvi-Lamdan, N., Horesh, D., Zohar, S., Kraus, M., & Golan, O. (2020). Autism spectrum disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder: An unexplored co-occurrence of conditions. Autism, 24(4), 884-898. 

Wright, L. A., Sijbrandij, M., Sinnerton, R., Lewis, C., Roberts, N. P., & Bisson, J. I. (2019). Pharmacological prevention and early treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Translational psychiatry, 9(1), 1-10.   

No part of this posting is intended to offend anyone in this class. If my posting does offend anyone, I sincerely apologize.

Respond Kindly to Student #2

Scott McNutt

Hello Everyone, 

 

Two types of disorders can have significant effects on a person. They are acute stress disorder (ASD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The first one (ASD) is a disorder created by an onset of disassociation or anxiety. It typically occurs within a month after being exposed to a traumatic event or severe incident (Kivi, 2018). The disorder can develop after a person has witnessed or experienced one or more traumatic type events. Examples of these events could be threats, injuries, death to other people or themselves, or threats to a person's physical integrity.The second one (PTSD). It is identified as a psychiatric disorder that can affect people exposed to a traumatic event. Several examples of an event are significant accidents, acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and personal injuries. The disorder can cause a person to have difficulties in recovering or returning to normal after being exposed to a traumatic or terrifying event (James & Gilliland, 2017). It could have chronic effects that may last months or even years.

 

In some cases, significant emotional and physical reactions can trigger the disorder. There are a variety of symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and nightmares. Typical treatment for the condition consists of medicine and medical interventions. Stress and trauma can interact with ASD and PTSD in several ways. If there is an increased level of trauma and stress in a situation where ASD is involved, it could worsen the symptoms (James & Gilliland, 2017). An event with PTSD, where stress and trauma had a traumatic effect on someone, can intrude into their consciousness and is extremely difficult to forget. Stress can prolong the recovery process and, in some instances, make the disorder worse. I believe there are two main reasons that practitioners misdiagnose these two conditions. The first one is a lack of knowledge or experience with someone who suffers from (ASD) or (PTSD). Additionally, the person experiencing the disorder may not always provide factual information and feelings on how they are feeling. The second one is because the two of them can be associated with the exact cause, which can be stress or trauma in most cases It can be challenging to decipher between the two. 

 

References

 

James, R. K., Gilliland, B. E., (2017). Crisis intervention strategies. 8th edition. 

 

Kivi, R. (2018). What causes acute stress disorder. Healthline.

 

TOPIC 2: First Responders

How does trauma impact first responders, and why are crisis intervention strategies particularly important for these individuals?

Respond Kindly to Student #1

Ryan Davidson

Impacts to First Responders

            Crisis intervention strategies for first responders in critically important due to the nature of their profession. The reason for the need to have effective strategies for first responders, especially police officer. According to Martinmäki et al. (2021), police officers have a significantly higher exposer rate of trauma than normal people to include being exposed to death, threat of death, traumatic injuries, or violent situation. Police officers need to have access to multiple treatments to deal with acute distress, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder treatments. Due to the timeframe that post-traumatic stress disorder can beginning to show symptoms, it is necessary to have treatments available upon onset of symptoms. James and Gilliland (2017) highlight a specific incident with a police officer named Ryan, where he was a decorated police officer who suddenly had a downturn in work performance and was diagnosed with delayed onset post-traumatic stress disorder with suicidal ideations. Moreover, once Ryan was diagnosed, he was given multiple treatments to include a support group and eye movement desensitization reprocessing which he was he was able to overcome the traumatic images that would trigger his anxiety (James & Gilliland, 2017). Having these support systems in place, allowed the police officer to be treated and regain control of his life.  

References:

James, R. K., & Gilliland, B. E. (2017). Crisis intervention strategies (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Martinmäki, S. E., Van der Aa, N., Nijdam, M. J., Pommée, M., & Ter Heide, F. J. J. (2021). Treatment response and treatment response predictors of a multidisciplinary day clinic for police officers with PTSD. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. https://doi-org.libauth.purdueglobal.edu/10.1037/tra0001128

Respond Kindly to Student #2

Travis Reed

Hello Y’all

Trauma contributes to mental illness among first responders, especially due to depression, which is the most common neuropsychiatric disorder. Normally, during a crisis, first responders such as enforcement officers experience the primary occurrences of that crisis, which leads to the accumulation of traumatic memories such as displacement and death of people to these individuals (SAMHA, 2018). Therefore, gradually the first responders develop mental health problems due to the reflection on those traumatic events. Additionally, trauma contributes to the stigmatization of first responders. The first responders are known to avoid people, things, or places that create the impression of the trauma they once experienced. Consequently, first responders gradually lose interests in people and things that they once liked. Besides, trauma contributes to suicidal ideation among first responders, particularly due to excessive accumulation of stress that they are unable to cope with (Lewis-Schroeder et al., 2018). Crisis intervention strategies help in reducing the intensity of the first responder's emotional, behavioral, mental, and physical reactions to a traumatic event. Also, these strategies help in returning the first responders to their previous level of functioning before the occurrence of a crisis. I have cases (patients) that still haunt me today and I would rather not discuss them if I do not have too.

References

Lewis-Schroeder, N. F., Kieran, K., Murphy, B. L., Wolff, J. D., Robinson, M. A., & Kaufman, M. L. (2018). Conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of traumatic stress in first responders: a review of critical issues. Harvard review of psychiatry, 26(4), 216.

SAMHSA. (2018). Retrieved 9 November 2021, from https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/dtac/supplementalresearchbulletin-firstresponders-may2018.pdf.

 

No part of this posting is intended to offend anyone in this class. If my posting does offend anyone, I sincerely apologize.

 

v/r

Reed