PSY101 MODULE 2-5 SLP

Student’s Name

Institution

Instructor

Course

Date

Introduction

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental condition that is occasioned by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Events in the life of a person that are likely to cause PTSD include warfare, sexual assault and death threats. Information available about PTSD shows that many people who have undergone traumatic events are not likely to develop the post-traumatic stress disorder with time and if good self-care is given to them immediately after the occurrence of the event (Janoff-Bulman, 1992). Research has also shown some degree of PTSD is hereditary and that women are more likely to develop PTSD than their male counterparts. A lot of research has been carried out to establish more details about the disorder. This research paper seeks to address the questions, what is known about the PTSD? What psychological symptoms are associated with it? What effective treatments exist today to manage the symptoms?

Symptoms and treatment

The psychological symptoms associated with the disorder are avoidance, hyper arousal, bad memories of the event and disturbing flashbacks that keep on recurring. The patient displays a new need to be alone, maybe locked in their rooms, most of the times, a character they did not have before the traumatic event. This could be bad dreams about the event, horrifying talk of the event and exaggerated reaction when there is mention of the event. Effective treatment that exist today, range from psychological counselling and good care to medication. Some medications lower the incidence of PTSD occurrence especially when they are administered in close proximity of the event.

A lot of research has been carried out to establish the causes of PTSD. The research also helped to determine the symptoms associated with the disorder and how to tell what they are. Measures are taken to prevent the occurrence of the disorder after the exposure to the traumatic event. Most of these measures revolve around psychological counselling and therapy. Therefore, with great care and understanding, the levels of PTSD could be reduced.

Works Cited Janoff-Bulman, R. (1992). Shattered Assumptions: Toward a New Psychology of Trauma. New York: Free Press.