Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder

✔️Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) -

Post -Traumatic Stress Disorder is an intense sustained emotional response to a traumatic experience or natural or manmade disaster.

✔️Definition -

PTSD is defined as the development of characteristic symptoms after exposure to a traumatic life experience capable of psychologically harming most people. Or A disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.it is natural to feel afraid during and after a Traumatic situation.

✔️Etiology -

Traumatic events capable of causing PTSD -

  • Natural disasters such as earth quakes, floods etc.
  • Accidental human made disaster example nuclear plant accident, auto. Crashes, industrial accidents, air plane crashes etc.
  • Intentional human made disasters such as prolonged military combat, rape, assault, armed robbery, physical and/or psychological abuse.

 ✔️Signs and Symptoms

Characteristic symptoms of PTSD includes re-experiencing the traumatic event, a sustained level of anxiety or arousal, or a general numbing of responsiveness. Nightmares of the event are common. Some individuals may not be able to remember certain aspects of the trauma, and symptoms of depression are common. In the case of a life threatening trauma that one has to face along with other survivors often describe painful guilt feelings about surviving when others did not. The full symptoms must be present for more than one month and cause significant interference with social, occupational and other areas of functioning.

✔️ Management: Pharmacotherapy

Tricyclic antidepressants like Amitriptyline and imipramine have been effective in treatment of PTSD. Benzodiazepines are also widely used for its treatment.

✔️ Nursing Intervention

  • Counseling: Clients should feel that s/he is being accepted. Communicate interest in 'the client by helping him describe his experience, And promote self- care.
  • Be non- judgmental about client's shameful and horrified perceived experience.
  • Help the client grieve. Let them express their feelings to the losses even if there are intangible losses such as sense of safety and threat of loss of life.
  • Help the client discuss the losses that have occurred and changes that have resulted from the trauma.
  • Redirect client's anger and energy towards physical activity.
  • Protect the client and others from physical harm.
  • Help them overcome symptoms of chronic anxiety.
  • Teach them new coping strategies.
  • Help the client recognize the relationship of symptoms to traumatic events.

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