14/02/2012 SL Psychology Assia Chelaghma

Abnormal psychology (157-161)

Anxiety disorders: post-traumatic stress disorder

PTSD lasts for more than 30 days. It is developed by a specific stressor. According to recent

studies, PTSD affects 15-24% of individuals who are exposed to traumatic events.

PTSD frequently occurs in conjunction with depression, social life problems like divorce or

deaths, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognition beside physical and mental

health problems.

Symptomology

Affective: anhedonia and emotional numbing.

Behavioural: hyper vigilance, passivity, nightmares, flashbacks.

Cognitive: Intrusive memories, inability to concentrate, hyper arousal.

Somatic: lower back pain, headaches, stomach ache and digestion problems, insomnia,

regression.

Etiology of PTSD

Biological level of analysis

Twin studies showed a possible genetic predisposition for PTSD, but most of biological

studies focus on the role of neurotransmitters on developing PTSD.

People with PTSD have high levels of noradrenaline which make them express emotions

more than normal.

Cognitive level of analysis

PTSD patients tend to think that they don’t have control over their lives. They experience

feelings of guilt and intrusive memories.

Development of PTSD is associated with a tendency to take personal responsibility for

failures and to cope with stress by focusing on the emotion rather than the problem.

Sociocultural level of analysis

Experiencing racism, threat of death and oppression can be a trigger of PTSD.

Cultural considerations in PTSD

The ways people experience PTSD differ from a culture to another.

Gender consideration in PTSD

14/02/2012 SL Psychology Assia Chelaghma

Studies have shown that women have a risk up to 5 times greater than males to develop PTSD

after a violent or traumatic event.

Symptoms can also differ between males and females. Men experience substance abuse,

violent behaviour, irritability and impulsiveness whereas women experience numbing,

avoidance, anxiety and affective disorders.

Research in psychology

PTSD in post-genocidal societies: the case of Rwanda

Right after the genocide, the experiment was conducted on participants who continued to live

in the same area where the atrocities took place.

The survey was conducted by UNICEF on 3000 children of age 8-19 years:

95% had witnessed violence.

80% had suffered from a death of a close relative.

62% had been threatened with death.

Symptomology:

Diminished expectations.

60% didn’t care if they grew up.

Intrusive memories.

Traumas.

Etiology:

Exposition to triggers.

Inability to give meanings to dangerous experiences in the presence of an

overwhelming arousal.

Less care towards child’s needs.