Discrepancy in Diagnosis and Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Essay Example

Abstract

This review provides the summary of a cross-sectional study conducted on PTSD patients who were frequently misdiagnosed. The interventions applied were cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotherapy. Specific aspects of the study will be reviewed. They include background, participants, implication of the findings, methods; measures and results.

Keywords: cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, PTSD,review

Introduction

It is often understood that in primary care (PC), PTSD patients are most likely misdiagnosed.One study was used in this literature review. It was conducted by Ellen Meltze (2012) and her colleagues. These researchers offered deeper insights of the issue through comprehensiveevaluation.The intention of researchers was to interpret patients’ data gathered through electronic medical records (EMR).Researchersalso traced the emergence of possible symptoms and created a diagnosing observation strategy.  This technique offered opportunities for developing criteria relating reasons identifying PTSD. It was a deliberate attempt at eliminating factors creatingmisdiagnoses in the science(Meltzer, Averbuch, Samet, Saint, Jabbar, Travaglini&Liebschutz, 2012).

Research details

An introductory section written by the researchers provided a succinct background of the study briefly detailing important features, which the reader ought to grasp before taking an in-depth view of the fact presented. For example, details contained in the abstract pertained to significant data such as, “2% to 11% with PTSD actually have the diagnosis noted in medical record”, (Meltzer et al., 2012, p. 191). At a closer evaluation it was discovered that from this small percentage of patents less than half receivedPTSD treatment. It was a correlational design appropriate for this type of scientific investigation

This study’s rationale encompassed exploring factors determining whether a PTSD diagnosed patient should receive treatment or not. The research team also delved into assessing by who PTSD patients should be treated initially, the primary care (PC) or a specialists (Meltzer et al., 2012, p.191). Further, the researchers explored health care industry sensitivity to PTSD and how approaches are made towards screening, diagnosis and treatment of Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder patients. The study brought evidence pertaining to challenges encountered by the health care industry in accurately treating patients who have been diagnosed.

Methodology

This could be considered a qualitative study whereby researchers seek to find out not merely when and where, but more precisely why and how.Essentially, a sample of records were examined in determining health care workers’ approaches to PTSD. Afterwards an observation confirmation technique was applied in collecting data for this study. The distinct measures used involved retrieving the medical electronic records of patients diagnosed with PTSD. Features described by the American Psychology Association determining PTSD diagnoses were evaluated specialists (Meltzer et al., 2012).

Additionally, features relating the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) prescriptions were also assessed as an important concept criteria in the study. Subsequently, researchers examined documentation styles and content of PTSD patients clinic visits for one year prior to the review (Meltzer et al., 2012, p. 192).

The extent to which patients suffering from PTSD encounter challenges of daily living was also evaluated as additional information for an in-depth evaluation of the dilemma (Meltzer et al., 2012, p. 192). This technique provided profound data regarding PTSD patients’ analysis by health care workers and interventions pertaining to cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotherapy. Actual accounts for the distinctPTSD correlation process was facilitated.The recovery stages were also assessed (Meltzer et al., 2012, p. 192).

Data collection procedures

There were five hundred and ninety two(592) adultparticipants in a primary care (PC) setting recruited for the study. The inclusion criterion included patients if they spoke English and between 18 to 65 years of age old. Written consent was obtained from participants prior to the data collection process.  Another inclusion criteria pertained to participants who had undergone manydifferent intervention procedures inclusive of psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. These interventions were expected to provide researchers with more precise data (Meltzer et al., p.  193).Further, theapplication of the electronic medical record (EMR) and mental health(MH)observation intervention facilitated accuracy of the research process. It limited reliability and validity errors, which could be contained in a study of this nature (Meltzer et al., 2012.

Precisely,the data collection process of this study involved adapted for the study includedinterview assessment and the exploration of the PTSD patients’’ electronic medical record. A cross-sectional approach was also applied formeasuring the results through correlation. The researchers however, administered a composite internal diagnostic interview (CIDI) to assess for current PTSD. In addition, patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was also administered to measure depressive symptoms (Meltzer et al., 2012, p. 197).

Results

From the electronic medical records database evaluation of PTSD patients’ files,researchers were able to identify the ideal process of determining significant similarities for defining PTSD symptoms. Theseresults revealed that patients responded well to interventions such as psychotherapy and cognitive behavior therapy.  Misdiagnosed PTSD cases were less likely to recover or respond positively to therapy. Essentially, this explain why there are so many PTSD patients who are enduring hardships within their communists and families.  Misdiagnoses and non-responsiveness to therapy are the main factors responsive according to results from this research(Meltzer et al., 2012

The interventions (cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotherapy) were effective, especially, in helping patients develop a better outlook in life. Practically, it could be understood that with these findings, specific changes regarding medical operations dedicated to PTSD-sufferers could be reassessed (Meltzer et al., 2012).

Implications of study

The implication of the study relates to providing healthcare industry with more knowledge in addressing PTSD as a psychological disorder. Families and the public could cease stigmatizing PTSD relatives/people due to their mental demeanor. Precisely, the American psychological association would have more data to hare with the organization.These findings presented in this study, indicate medical support given to PTSD patients is limited and at some times inappropriate due to misdiagnoses. The cognitive behavioral therapy and psychotherapy interventions, while effective in some situationscould be more accessible and productive if patients were adequately screened and followed up immediately. As such, more vigilance is required in this aspect of health care intervention.

Conclusion

Finally, the researchers concluded that findings of this project can serve as a valuable sourceof public information. People seek to understand how PTSD is related to other physical problems and. The importance of appropriate intervention strategies as was discovered in this study is significant in resolving many of the irregularities encountered by health care workers in diagnoses and treatment of PTSD patents currently and in the future. It was cited that while the information derived from this study is very useful more in-depth investigation is necessary.

References

Meltzer, E.  Averbuch, T. Samet, J.  Saint, R., Jabbar, K. Travaglini,  L., &Liebschutz, J. (2012). Discrepancy in Diagnosis and Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Treatment for the Wrong Reason. PTSD Treatment, 39(2), 190-201.