Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Term Paper Sample)

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Course Name and Number Instructor’s Name Date of Submission     Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Neurobiological Basis of PTSD The mechanism of PTSD lies in the activation of several key brain zones and neurotransmitter systems. There is also hyperactivity in the amygdala, which is charged with the responsibility of dealing with the emotions and fears of patients with PTSD. On the other hand, a normal or even slightly reduced response is shown in the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with emotional regulation and executive functions. This imbalance accredits the increased ratings of fear alongside poor emotional regulation due to PTSD (Tye et al., 2015). The hippocampus is involved in the consolidation of memory, among other functions, and some studies in PTSD patients have revealed its shrinkage, which could explain why traumatic memories are not contextualized properly(Pronier et al., 2023). PTSD has been linked to a change in stress hormone levels, with cortisol levels being specific and affected neurotransmitter systems being norepinephrine and serotonin (Tye et al., 2015). Altogether, all these changes lead to a chronic hyperaroused state, intrusive memory, and avoidant responses in PTSD. DSM-5-TR Diagnostic Criteria and Case Study Analysis PTSD is explained by the DSM together with the DSM-5-TR criteria that the patient is required to meet, which are exposure to the traumatic event, involvement in intrusion symptoms, avoidance, negative changes in cognition and mood, as well as significant changes in arousal and reactivity (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). The video case concerns a boy, Joe, who was an eight-year-old child diagnosed with PTSD as a result of a car accident and the consequent pursuit by another driver (Grande, 2019). Based on the symptoms presented in the case and according to the DSM-5-TR, Joe displays several elements corresponding to PTSD criteria. It is depicted that he has unwilling and repeated thoughts of the accident and subsequent pursuit, thus satisfying Criterion B. The client's avoidance of similar roads or TV clips of car accidents falls under Criterion C. In the same regard, Joe gets outbursts of aggression as well as sleep disturbances, which qualify him for Criterion D of psychotic disorders. Moreover, Joe's behavior indicates that he meets the arousal criterion (Criterion E), such as becoming hypervigilant and displaying aggressive outbursts at school. Altogether, these signs appear to align with the diagnosis of PTSD; however, the objective clinical evaluation of the patient would be necessary to make the final decision. The case also brings out the difference between what may be considered a traumatic event by others and what may be considered traumatic by the affected person, which makes it important to take into consideration the perception of an individual when handling PTSD (Grande, 2019). It is, nonetheless, crucial to remember that in the video, Joe was diagnosed with various other disorders, meaning that the signs of PTSD need to be analyzed comprehensively, taking into consideration the assistance of other diagnosable disorders that the boy has (Grande, 2019). Particularly, the number of diagnoses is large, which is very close to the number of diagnoses made in clinics, but it can be a sign and look suspicious. Thus, stressing the psycho-diathesis notion, the case demonstrates that PTSD can result from some experiences that may not be considered traumatic by others (Maercker et al., 2020). According to Grande (2019), it is critical to understand that "It is not only how severe the traumatic event that played out was, but there are also other numerous factors that have to be considered.” Alternative Psychotherapy Treatment Option The video discusses Trauma-Focused Cognitive Therapy (TF-CT) as Joe's primary treatment. However, an alternative evidence-based treatment to consider is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR is a psychotherapy treatment designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. It involves standardized protocols that include bilateral stimulation (usually eye movements) while the client focuses on traumatic memories. EMDR helps clients process traumatic memories and develop more adaptive coping mechanisms (American Psychiatric Association, 2017). EMDR is considered a gold standard treatment for PTSD according to clinical practice guidelines. The American Psychological Association lists EMDR as a strongly recommended treatment for PTSD in adults (American Psychiatric Association, 2017). For children like Joe, EMDR has also shown promising results, though more research is needed in pediatric populations. Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners must use gold-standard, evidence-based treatments like EMDR. This ensures the provision of care that has been rigorously tested and proven effective. This approach maximizes the likelihood of positive outcomes, promotes ethical practice, and aligns with the principles of evidence-based medicine. In Joe's case, EMDR could potentially help him process the traumatic memories of the accident and pursuit, reducing his intrusive thoughts and helping him develop a more adaptive understanding of the event. It might also address his anxiety and sleep issues, which are common targets in EMDR therapy. References American Psychiatric Association. (2017). Clinical practice guideline of PTSDLinks to an external site.. https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disordersLinks to an external site. (5th ed., text rev.). https://go.openathens.net/redirector/waldenu.edu?url=https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/book/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787 Grande, T. (2019, August 21). Presentation example: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Links to an external site. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkSv_zPH-M4 Maercker, A., Cloitre, M., Bachem, R., Schlumpf, Y. R., Khoury, B., Hitchcock, C., & Bohus, M. (2022). Complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Lancet (London, England), 400(10345), 60–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00821-2 Pronier, É., Morici, J. F., & Girardeau, G. (2023). The role of the hippocampus in the consolidation of emotional memories during sleep. Trends in neurosciences, 46(11), 912–925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2023.08.003 Tye, S., Van Voorhees, E., Hu, C., & Lineberry, T. (2015). Preclinical perspectives on posttraumatic stress disorder criteria in DSM-5 Download Preclinical perspectives on posttraumatic stress disorder criteria in DSM-5. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 23(1), 51–58. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4542003/ Annotated Bibliography American Psychiatric Association. (2017). Clinical practice guideline of PTSD. https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline The guideline for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder is developed to help clinicians apply evidence-based practice as recommended by the American Psychiatric Association. This guideline strongly supports a range of specific psychotherapies as initial treatments: Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure therapy, and EMDR. It also examines potential pharmacological treatments for PTSD and their effectiveness in different patients. More information about the use of these treatments, their benefits and risks as well as information regarding the treatment of patients of different categories is available in this guideline. This source is deemed scholarly because of the systematic approach used in its development and the background of the authors. These are developed by the American Psychiatric Association, a leading professional organization in mental health, by undertaking a comprehensive survey of existing research studies. Interprofessional teams of healthcare professionals appraise and assess the quality and validity of evidence to develop and make recommendations. These guidelines are reviewed and approved by several other professionals before they are published for the public to use. And, they are commonly employed not only to guide clinical practice but also to advise policy-making regarding the treatment of PTSD in mental health care. American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). https://go.openathens.net/redirector/waldenu.edu?url=https://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/book/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787 The DSM-5-TR acts as the reference document for mental health practitioners in categorizing and diagnosing mental disorders, including PTSD. This comprehensive manual provides detailed diagnostic criteria for PTSD, outlining the specific symptoms required across four clusters: This includes intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. They also outline the time frame for the symptoms and the level of disability needed for the diagnosis of PTSD. As the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the DSM-5-TR's approach to PTSD is the best representation of PTSD based on the current research and observations. This source is closely associated with scholarly knowledge, due to its development and acceptance in the field. The American Psychiatric Association is the oldest and largest national medical association dedicated to psychiatry, and it produces the DSM-5-TR. Its content is therefore as accurate as possible and represents currently available knowledge in the mental health field drawn from a committee of experts across different mental health disciplines. The diagnostic criteria are peer-reviewed, and the basis for them is both empirical and theoretical. Because of the publication of the DSM-5-TR, it serves as the clinician's and researc...