1Listen to the audio lecture while viewing these slidesPsychology 311Abnormal Psychology1Post Traumatic Stress Disorder2Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyOverview• Usually involves an extreme experience whose effect may extend over long periods of time (years)• Onset usually develops • Soon after experience (within 3 months)• Delayed (longer than 6 months)• Results from many experiences•Combat• Car wrecks or plane crashes• Dam breaking and flooding a town3Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyCauses• Vulnerabilities suggested for the reason some people get over trauma and others end up with PTSD• Preexisting emotional and behavioral difficulties increase the likelihood of PTSD• People who go through a trauma with unwarranted calm may be more prone to PTSD• Person stays calm and stable during the situation, experience hits them later•EMTs• Concern if person lacks adequate coping skills or social support4Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyCauses• Will become fearful of a repetition of the stress• Develop chronic overarrousal and anxiety• Become fearful of a repetition of the stress• = chronic arousal and anxiety5Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyPerson often Reexperiences the Event• Is a frequent characteristic• May have unreality to it• Feelings of the person are numb• Individuals may have hyperaltertness• Difficulty concentrating• Falling asleep is hard to do6Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyPreoccupation• Often leads to • Less interest in social relations• Decrease in intimacy• Decreased sexual relations27Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyIndividuals Coping Mechanisms• Person uses a large amount of psychological energy to fend of thoughts• May also engage in O/C behaviors to reduce the anxiety• Often use illicit drugs to dull or block the memory•Alcohol•Heroin8Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyTreatment•Drugs•Antidepressants• Antianxiety drugs• Psychotherapy•Is helpful• Try to help person view the experience differently•Elicit the strong emotions•Help integrate the experience into the persons life• Is difficult to break through for some individuals• Regardless of treatment, the sooner it begins, the better the outcome• Reason for police officers receiving counseling after they shoot or kill a