Clinical Diagnosis and Manifestation for Ptsd, Assessment Example

Introduction

American psychiatric Association (2000) revised the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnostic criteria in the fourth edition of its diagnostic and numerical manual of mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) (1).

The revised current criteria for PTSD diagnosis include;

Criterion A: stressor

This criterion specifies that, a person has been exposed to shocking event or events involving real or threatened death or grave injury or a threat to physical integrity of him/her or others. During the traumatic exposure the survivor subjectively responded with intense fear, helplessness or horror. In children the response may be expressed by disorganized or nervous behavior (Keane, Wolfe, & Taylor, 1987).

Criterion B: Intrusive recollection

This criterion specifies that the person re-experiences traumatic event or events persistently. A survivor of the traumatic event suffers recurrent and intrusive distressing memories of the trauma via images, thoughts or perceptions. Or experience distressing dreams. In children the dreams are terrifying with unfamiliar contents. The survivor actions or feelings changes as if the traumatic events were recurring which include illusions, hallucinations and dissociative flashback episodes, up to those that occur upon arousing or intoxication. Again, a survivor may show intense psychological suffering at exposure to internal or external cues that signify an aspect of catastrophic event. Lastly, a survivor shows physiological reaction when exposed to internal or external cues that symbolize an aspect of traumatic (Trimble, 1985).

Criterion C: Avoidant/Numbing

This criterion specifies that a survivor of traumatic event persistently avoids stimuli associated with trauma and numbs the general receptiveness. The survivor avoids thoughts, feeling, or conversations associated with the trauma. Or avoid activities, places or people that arouse remembrance of the traumas.

Criterion D: Hyper-arousal

Specifies that, a person feels persistent symptoms of trauma arousal which were absent before the trauma. Such symptoms are revealed by either difficulty of staying asleep or difficulty concentrating or the person becomes hyper-vigilant.

Criterion E: Duration

The duration of manifestation of the symptoms detailed in criterion A through D is one month from the time the trauma took place.

Criterion F: Functional significance

This criterion indicates that the survivor of trauma must experience significant social, occupational or other suffering as a result of these symptoms.

Reference

American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (Revised4th Ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

Keane, T.M., Wolfe, J., & Taylor, K.I. (1987) Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Evidence for diagnostic validity and methods of psychological assessment. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 43, 32-43.

Trimble, M.D. (1985). Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: History of a concept. In C.R. Figley (Ed.), Trauma and its wake: The study and treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. New York: Brunner/Mazel. Revised from Encyclopedia of Psychology, R. Corsini, Ed. (New York: Wiley, 1984, 1994)