Traumatic Stress And Stressor Related Disorder - 1512 Words

According to the DSM-5, Post-Traumatic Stress is a trauma and stressor-related disorder characterised by psychological and physiological symptoms emerging from direct or indirect exposure to a traumatic stressor. Examples include combat, rape or abuse. Moreover, the event itself elicits overwhelming emotional responses including fear, helplessness, or horror that threatens the psychological integrity of the individual. Notwithstanding the actual trigger, the individual s response is of such severity that it leads to clinically significant distress or impaired functioning. Traumatic symptomology often plagues the individual’s experience, manifesting in recurrent flashbacks, night terrors, somatic memories and hyperarousal. This†¦show more content†¦In line with this, not all who experience traumatic events go on to develop PTSD, which provides further inquiry into risk factors that increase vulnerability and predisposition. Risk can broadly be separated into pre- , peri- and post-trauma factors which influence the likelihood of PTSD. A history of prior trauma greatly increases susceptibility to PTSD, particularly when past traumas have been unresolved. A study by Breslau et al (1999) found that the experience of assaultive violence in childhood was consistent with the incidence of PTSD manifesting from trauma in adulthood. This may be due to decreased capacity for coping and the re-emergence of maladaptive coping skills, alongside increased responsivity, sensitivity, and reactive recall of previous traumas. Research highlights other major risk factors such as mental illness, chronic stress and inadequate social support (Halligan Yehuda, 2000). Post-trauma risk factors such as social support, secondary victimization and lack of treatment greatly impact on the resilience of the individual. For example, a rape victim is likely to feel worse about the event if her family view her as ‘shameful’ or ‘dirty’. Sociological studies by Chivers-Wilson (2006) presented a link between modern cultures of victim blaming/shaming and the onset of PTSD. Undoubtedly judgmental and unsupportive