Describing the crisis
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a form of psychological trauma which develops in response to actual or threatened extreme danger or trauma. Examples include wartime experiences, natural disasters, rape, incest, or even psychotic episodes (including placement in psychiatric hospitals). Torture almost always results in PTSD. Symptoms include nightmares, dissociative states, vivid flashback memories of the traumatic event, loss of control, emotional detachment (psychic numbing), hyper-arousal, and survivor guilt. Typically, symptoms of PTSD consist of recurrent re-experiencing of the trauma, avoidance behaviors or phobias, and chronic physical signs related to hyper-arousal, including sleep disorder, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, memory problems, and fatigue. PTSD may be associated with anxiety, depression, substance abuse, alcoholism, or personality disorders.
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During wartime, PTSD was referred to as “shell-shock” or battle fatigue. In the press, PTSD has become strongly associated with survivors of military trauma.
People with PTSD repeatedly re-experience their trauma through memories and thoughts of the experience. They often suffer from flashbacks, hallucinations and nightmares. The anxiety associated with the traumatic event can provoke avoidant or isolating behaviors. Persons with PTSD can have feelings of detachment from family and friends, isolation, and loss of social interactions. Severe dissociative symptoms include depersonalization, psychic numbing, or amnesia. Increased arousal can manifest as emotional liability, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to sensory stimuli (startle response), and physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, and gastrointestinal problems.
People with PTSD repeatedly re-experience their trauma through memories and thoughts of the experience. They often suffer from flashbacks, hallucinations and nightmares. The anxiety associated with the traumatic event can provoke avoidant or isolating behaviors. Persons with PTSD can have feelings of detachment from family and friends, isolation, and loss of social interactions. Severe dissociative symptoms include depersonalization, psychic numbing, or amnesia. Increased arousal can manifest as emotional liability, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to sensory stimuli (startle response), and physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, and gastrointestinal problems.
What is affected?
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Certain structures of the brain are closely related to some of the symptoms of PTSD. These structures include the amygdala and hippocampus (which are part of the limbic system); several parts of the prefrontal cortex (PFC); the mid anterior cingulate cortex and the right inferior frontal gyrus. PTSD causes the hyper-activation of some of these structures while other parts of the brain become hypo-active. (Maynard, n.d.)
There are some studies which suggest that the constant experience of stress may actually damage the hippocampus. When we experience stress, the body releases a hormone called cortisol, which is helpful in mobilizing the body to respond to a stressful event. Some animal studies, though, show that high levels of cortisol may damage or destroy cells in the hippocampus.
Researchers have also looked at the size of the hippocampus in people with and without PTSD. They have found that people who have severe, chronic cases of PTSD have smaller hippocampi. The researchers have taken this to suggest that the experience of constant stress as a result of severe and chronic PTSD may ultimately damage the hippocampus, making it smaller. (Tull, n.d.)
And for the amygdala, research suggests that PTSD increases the amygdala function by over stimulating it which is involved in memory for the emotional valence of events, and plays a critical role in the acquisition of fear responses. The medial prefrontal cortex includes the anterior cingulate gyrus and subcallosal gyrus as well as orbitofrontal cortex. Lesion studies demonstrated that the medial prefrontal cortex modulates emotional responsiveness through inhibition of amygdala function. In effect, PTSD increases the amount of fear responses.
There are some studies which suggest that the constant experience of stress may actually damage the hippocampus. When we experience stress, the body releases a hormone called cortisol, which is helpful in mobilizing the body to respond to a stressful event. Some animal studies, though, show that high levels of cortisol may damage or destroy cells in the hippocampus.
Researchers have also looked at the size of the hippocampus in people with and without PTSD. They have found that people who have severe, chronic cases of PTSD have smaller hippocampi. The researchers have taken this to suggest that the experience of constant stress as a result of severe and chronic PTSD may ultimately damage the hippocampus, making it smaller. (Tull, n.d.)
And for the amygdala, research suggests that PTSD increases the amygdala function by over stimulating it which is involved in memory for the emotional valence of events, and plays a critical role in the acquisition of fear responses. The medial prefrontal cortex includes the anterior cingulate gyrus and subcallosal gyrus as well as orbitofrontal cortex. Lesion studies demonstrated that the medial prefrontal cortex modulates emotional responsiveness through inhibition of amygdala function. In effect, PTSD increases the amount of fear responses.
References
Maynard, E. (n.d.). What Exactly Does PTSD Do to the Brain?”. Retrieved April 18, 2015, from
http://ptsd.about.com/od/causesanddevelopment/fl/What-Exactly-Does-PTSD-Do-to-the-
Brain.htm
PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment and therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2015,
from http://www.pchtreatment.com/post-traumatic-stress-treatment-center/
Tull, M. (n.d.). Information on the Effect of PTSD on the Brain. Retrieved April 17, 2015, from
http://ptsd.about.com/od/symptomsanddiagnosis/a/hippocampus.htm
http://ptsd.about.com/od/causesanddevelopment/fl/What-Exactly-Does-PTSD-Do-to-the-
Brain.htm
PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment and therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved April 17, 2015,
from http://www.pchtreatment.com/post-traumatic-stress-treatment-center/
Tull, M. (n.d.). Information on the Effect of PTSD on the Brain. Retrieved April 17, 2015, from
http://ptsd.about.com/od/symptomsanddiagnosis/a/hippocampus.htm