Post-Traumatic Disorder: Explain the Symptoms and Categories (Coursework Sample)

Post-traumatic Disorder
Name
Institution
Post-traumatic Diosrder
Introduction
Post-traumatic disorder is a mental health disorder mostly prompted by various terrifying and hostile events such as bombings and terror attacks. The disorder is mostly associated with the military personnel who experience hostile events in their duties to fight and protect their country from external attacks. PTSD may also occur on people who experience dreadful incidences such as rape, child abuse, car accidents, kidnap or various natural disasters like floods. Victims may either experience the mental disorder by witnessing a terrible event, or obtaining injuries in the course of the horrible incident. Usually, individuals with PTSD usually face a myriad challenges trying to cope with the situation. However, the victims may get better under close supervision from their health providers. The following paper will discuss the causes, symptoms and risk factors of Post-traumatic disorder.
1 Describe the causes of PTSD. Explain the symptoms and categories (re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal) of PTSD.
Medical researchers are yet to reveal the precise causes of PTSD. However, doctors have suggested various causes that may trigger the occurrence of the disorder. Possible causes of the mental disorder include mental health risks like depression and terrible life experiences of traumatic events such as bombings and terror attacks. Another possible cause of PTSD depends on how the patient’s brain responds to stress through the regulation of hormones. The study of various brain areas and their functions in controlling stress and fear has aided researchers to identify more possible causes of the mental disorder. For instance, Amygdala, one brain structure, is active in learning to fear a terrifying event and fear acquisition. The differences in the action of the brain area may trigger PTSD.
Studies show that the signs of the disorder may occur a few months or years after the dreadful event experienced. These symptoms have proven to have adverse effects on the social life of the victim including his or her workplace. The four types of PTSD symptoms include intrusive memories, negative changes in mood and thinking, the change of emotional reactions and avoidance (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014).
Signs of intrusive memories include unwanted distressing memories, upsetting dreams and emotional distress about the disturbing event. Symptoms associated with the change of mood includes emotional numbness, negative feeling of oneself and hopelessness (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). Other signs may include memory problems, lack of interests in various activities and challenges in maintaining good relations with other people. Arousal symptoms include aggressive behavior, overwhelming guilt, trouble sleeping and self-destructive behaviors such as taking too much alcohol. One common sign of avoidance includes avoiding people or places that bring flashbacks on the traumatic event (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014).
2 Describe the risk factors of and the influence of personal/family history on PTSD. Is it hereditary? What genes, if any, are involved? Is Peggy at risk for PTSD? Why, or why not?
Everybody is at risk of having the post-traumatic disorder (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). However, researchers have identified factors that increase the likelihood of developing the mental illness. Major risks factors associated with PTSD include long-lasting trauma, experience of past traumatic events and having a job that exposes you to various distressing events such as bombings. Individual who are more likely to have PTSD due to their occupation are the military personnel. Other risk factors include lack of a strong family support, other mental illness like anxiety or having relatives with mental disorders like depression (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014).
Studies show that PTSD may be inherited. Researchers have identified two genes that are involved in the production of serotonin, a chemical in the brain that regulates alertness, mood and sleep. The two genes that control serotonin production are TPH1 and TPH2 (Rupert, 2013).Indeed, Peggy is at risk of having PTSD because some of her family members have had the same health condition at one time in their lives. For example, Peggy has mother and maternal grandmother have a history of depression.
3 Explain the pharmacogenomic testing available for PTSD medication treatment. Why is this performed? What are the benefits and limitations of this testing?
Clinicians now use the Pharmacogenomic test to guide their decision for the veterans receiving treatment for behavior-related health conditions. America’s Assurex Health developed the GeneSight Psychotropic to access and analyze how the genetic makeup of an individual influences his response to various mediations prescribed to treat various health conditions such as schizophrenia, anxiety, depression and PTSD. The availability of the GeneSight Psychotropic test offers an opportunity to change the lives of veterans who become traumatized due to various horrible experiences in their line of duty.
Common prescriptions for PTSD are antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that are useful in reducing or controlling the depression of the victim (Assurex Health, 2014). According to the US Center for Disease...