Post-traumatic

Stress Disorder
By Desiree Bennett and
Jessica Pelley
What is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder ?
● Post-traumatic stress disorder is also referred to as PTSD
● Mental health condition that is caused by an extreme stressor from a terrifying event
that has either been experienced hands on or witnessed.
● The greater the intensity and duration of the stressor and the more physically close one
is to it, the greater the risk of developing the disorder.
Symptoms
1. Intrusion symptoms (recurrent dreams or memories).
2. Persistent avoidance of objects, thoughts, people, or situations that
trigger memories of the stressor.
3. Negative changes in cognitions and mood associated with the event
(inability to recall important aspects of the event, exaggerated
negative beliefs about oneself, feelings of fear, horror, anger.
4. Persistent increased sympathetic nervous system arousal and
reactivity (difficulty concentrating or sleeping, hypervigilance, and
irritable, angry or aggressive outbursts.
A video discussing symptoms and strategies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HzYOxHNhNU
What is required for a diagnosis of
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder?
● A post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis requires that symptoms cause significant distress
or impairment in one or more areas and be observed for more than one month.

● Someone who has PTSD will usually have symptoms in one or more areas within three
months of exposure to the extreme stressor. This may include one or more symptoms.
For an example disturbance, persistent avoidance, negative changes in cognitive and mood
associated with the event, and persistent increased sympathetic nervous system arousal and
reactivity. In the DSM it acknowledges that sometimes symptoms do not appear for months
or years.

● PTSD with Delayed Expression is a term used for those who may have symptoms that are
not observed until later.
Continued..

● If the symptoms have been observed for less than a month then a diagnostic of PTSD
would not be appropriate. Instead you would look into a diagnosis of Acute Stress
Disorder(ASD).

● ASD has similar symptoms to those of PTSD. The only difference is the time. The symptoms
must have occurred less than a month and a minimum of three days.
Common trauma reactions in childhood
and adolescents
Age Common Trauma Reactions

1-6 Aggression; re-experiencing trauma through play’ absence of fearful reactions

years during exposure or during re-experiencing, negative alteration in mood; restricted
play or exploratory behaviour

6-12 Difficulties expressing emotions (anger, sadness); reliving the traumatic event;
years frightening dreams; verbalization of traumatic memories

13-18 Feelings of fear, seclusion, guilt; avoidance of developmental opportunities

years (e.g., driving); view of self as cowardly; beliefs that they are different and
undesirable (e.g., “now i’ll never fit in”); loss of aspiration for the future; substance use.
Portrayal of post-traumatic stress disorder
in the media
● In the movies PTSD is portrayed as something that happens after a big
dramatic moment (e.i explosions, gun fights etc…) or after someone comes
home from the war but ptsd can be caused by things like divorce, neglect
from parents and domestic violence. This portrayal makes it more difficult for
regular people to recognize symptoms of ptsd in themselves.
Facts and myths about trauma and stress
related
MYTH: PTSDdisorders
only affects war veterans. Children and youth don’t get
PTSD

FACT: Although PTSD does affect war veterans, it also affects children
and youth. As many as 70% of people in north america will experience
at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Of those people, up to
20% will go on to develop PTSD. Children who endure abuse, neglect or
molestation are more susceptible to ptsd at some point in their lives.

FACT: 1 out of 10 women will develop PTSD as some point in their life.
Women are 2 times more susceptible to ptsd due to domestic violence.
Continued...
MYTH: It’s all in their heads. If it were real, everyone exposed to a traumatic
event would have PTSD.

FACT: Reality is PTSD is a very real condition caused by traumatic events that
change how the brain functions, affecting how individuals react to the world it is
a highly individual response based on many factors.

MYTH: PTSD affects someone immediately after a traumatic ordeal. If time has
passed, someone is no longer at risk for PTSD.

FACT: usually arises in the first 3 months, but often symptoms don’t show until
months and years after the trauma. The nature of ptsd can make it difficult for
people to recognize the ptsd in themselves, since so much time has passed they
might not associate the symptoms to having ptsd. For example the longer
someone stays in a domestic violent relationship increases their risk for PTSD.
Comorbidity with PTSD

● As stated in our textbook “Individuals with PTSD are 80% more likely than those without
PTSD to have symptoms that meet diagnostic criteria for at least one other mental
disorder (e.g., depression, bipolar, anxiety, or substance use disorder)”

● Approximately 75% of those diagnosed with PTSD aged 12-17 meet the criteria for a
diagnosis of a mood disorder and/or substance abuse.

● A study has shown that comorbid conditions associated with PTSD include ADHD,
depression, and anxiety and were most likely to present with aggressive behaviours
and rule violations
Illustration of comorbid conditions in
relation to development stage
Treatments/interventions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtPRg_Ibn-c

When treating children with ptsd there is always more than one treatments being used.
● Before treatment can begin the physical safety of the child needs to be established.
● Psychotherapy is usually recommended and medication because of comorbidity.
● Working with parents or caregivers and optimizing support in the education system
have shown to be successful.
● Cognitive- Behavioural Therapy (Managing stress and planning for crisis are important
for CBT treatment.)
● Psychological first aid/crisis management
● Play therapy
● Education about how the trauma affects the c/y is important to facilitate relaxation.
Continued...
● CBT would be the most appropriate in c/y with ptsd because therapists using CBT will
motivate patients to take a look at their thinking patterns and expectations of events,
so that they become aware of when they think negatively or when they expect the
worst outcome.

● By being aware of these outcomes therapists are able to help c/y think more positively
and have more of a balanced thinking pattern. This will also help their understanding of
their trauma as well as their ability to cope with that trauma.

● Exposure to the trauma and the associated emotions are used to help c/y reduce
avoidance and maladaptive behaviours associated with the trauma.

● This is done in a controlled and planned way between patient and therapist, so that the
patient is in control.

● The expected outcome is for the patient to gain a sense of control, increase self-
confidence, reduce avoidance and maladaptive behaviours and increase the sense of
Case Study
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl4F3C_GmRo

● Break into groups

● Brainstorm ways to help youth John in video

● Share with the class

References
Gural, D. M. (2017). Abnormal or exceptional: Mental health literacy for child and youth care. Brantford, Ont.: W. Ross MacDonald

School Resource Services Library.

http://www.ptsdalliance.org/common-myths/

https://cmha.ca/documents/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2811337/