psychological effects of trauma
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF TRAUMA
Introduction
A traumatic event is any situation whereby a person is affected psychologically due to the severity of the event. In such cases, a person may find it difficult to move on to normal life which they had no problem with before the traumatic event. A recent event that affected hundreds of people in Kenya was the Westgate terror attack. Terror attacks cause people to lose trust in humanity. This attack left many people traumatised Fortunately, these consequences of the trauma are treatable. Therefore, this essay will discuss the basic psychological problems the victims of the Westgate attack may experience followed by a treatment plan to help overcome these problems.
Firstly, this essay will discuss the various psychological problems that are likely to be experienced by victims rescued from the attack. Secondly, this essay will discuss a treatment plan to help the victims overcome these problems.
Diagnostic Criteria (DSM IV)
Trauma is caused by a distressing event that severely affects the psychological well-being of an individual which could most likely lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The diagnostic and statistical manual IV (1994), (DSM IV), classifies that post-traumatic stress disorder can only occur after a traumatic event.
The diagnostic criteria according to the DSM IV (1994) for PTSD are as follows;-
“The essential feature of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is the development of characteristic symptoms following exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor involving direct personal experience of an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or other threat to one 's physical integrity; or witnessing an event that involves death, injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of another person; or learning about unexpected or violent death, serious harm, or threat of death or injury experienced by a family member or other close associate (Criterion Al). The person 's response to the
Introduction
A traumatic event is any situation whereby a person is affected psychologically due to the severity of the event. In such cases, a person may find it difficult to move on to normal life which they had no problem with before the traumatic event. A recent event that affected hundreds of people in Kenya was the Westgate terror attack. Terror attacks cause people to lose trust in humanity. This attack left many people traumatised Fortunately, these consequences of the trauma are treatable. Therefore, this essay will discuss the basic psychological problems the victims of the Westgate attack may experience followed by a treatment plan to help overcome these problems.
Firstly, this essay will discuss the various psychological problems that are likely to be experienced by victims rescued from the attack. Secondly, this essay will discuss a treatment plan to help the victims overcome these problems.
Diagnostic Criteria (DSM IV)
Trauma is caused by a distressing event that severely affects the psychological well-being of an individual which could most likely lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The diagnostic and statistical manual IV (1994), (DSM IV), classifies that post-traumatic stress disorder can only occur after a traumatic event.
The diagnostic criteria according to the DSM IV (1994) for PTSD are as follows;-
“The essential feature of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is the development of characteristic symptoms following exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor involving direct personal experience of an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or other threat to one 's physical integrity; or witnessing an event that involves death, injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of another person; or learning about unexpected or violent death, serious harm, or threat of death or injury experienced by a family member or other close associate (Criterion Al). The person 's response to the
References: American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text revision). Washington, DC: Author. Briere, J. & Scott, C. (2006). Principles of Trauma Therapy: A Guide to Symptoms, Evaluation, and Treatment. California: SAGE Publications. McLean, C. P. & Foa, E. B. (2011). Prolonged exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder: a review of evidence and dissemination. Expert Review on Neurotherapeutics, 11, 1151–1163. Schiraldi, G. R. (2009). The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder SOURCEBOOK Second Edition. A Guide To Healing, Recovery, And Growth. McGraw-Hill Companies. Schnurr, P. P., Friedman, M. J., Engel, C. C., Foa, E. B., Shea, M. T., Chow, B. K., Resick, P. A. & Thurston, V. (2007). Cognitive behavioural therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder in women: a randomized controlled trial. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 297, 820–30. Rosen, G. M (2004). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Issues and Controversies. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.