PTSD

The concept of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been around since ancient times but it did not receive its formal name and classification of symptoms until 1980 in the DSM-III.  Before this it had been known as “nostalgia”, “Soldier’s heart”, “railway spine”, “Combat Stress Reaction (CSR) or battle fatigue”, “gross stress reaction” in the DSM-I, and most famously “shell shock”.  PTSD began as a way to explain the symptoms that soldiers and warriors were experiencing when they left the battlefield and returned home.  However, it is important to note that PTSD is not exclusive to soldiers alone. Read below for more in-depth information on what PTSD is, examples of related trauma disorders, and common treatments.

What is PTSD?

The American Psychiatric Association defines posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as “a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, series of events or set of circumstances.  An individual may experience this as emotionally or physically harmful or life-threatening and may affect mental, physical, social, and/or spiritual well-being.” PTSD is characterized by 4 different types of symptoms: reliving the traumatic event, avoiding situations that are reminders of the event, negative changes in beliefs and feelings, and hypervigilance.

In 1980, PTSD was added to the DSM-III based on research involving Vietnam War Veterans, Holocaust survivors, and others.  In previous iterations of the DSM, it was known as “gross stress reaction” in the DSM -I and was characterized by symptoms from traumatic events that were expected to resolve within 6 months, and in the DSM – II as “adjustment reaction to adult life” which limited diagnostic criteria to only 3 types of trauma.  After more criteria revisions, the DSM-5 removed PTSD from its list of anxiety disorders and moved it to a new category of Trauma – and Stressor-Related Disorders.  This move allowed for an expanded understanding across multiple mood states instead of limiting the scope to an anxiety related disorder.

CPTSD

In 1988, there was a suggestion from Dr. Judith Herman to add a new diagnosis, complex PTSD (CPTSD) to describe the symptoms of long-term/repeated trauma that was not covered by a PTSD diagnosis alone.  CPTSD is characterized by: behavioral difficulties, emotional difficulties, cognitive difficulties, interpersonal difficulties, and somatization. While considered for the DSM-IV, it ultimately was omitted from entry as trials determined that “92% of individuals with CPTSD also met diagnostic criteria for PTSD.” (ptsd.va.gov)  Inclusion was reconsidered for the DSM-5 because it was deemed that there was not enough empirical evidence to support  a separate diagnosis.  While not formally recognized in the DSM-5 as a separate diagnosis, CPTSD is widely regarded as a standalone diagnosis.  The World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Diseases, 11th version (ICD-11) identifies CPTSD as a new condition.

Treatment

There are several different treatment options available for those living with PTSD and CPTSD. Read below for some brief information from the American Psychiatric Association on some of the common treatments for PTSD and CPTSD.

 

Therapy

    • Cognitive Processing Therapy – this therapy focuses on changing painful negative emotions and beliefs that are linked to the trauma
    • Prolonged Exposure Therapy – this therapy uses exposure to symptom triggers in a controlled environment to allow a person the opportunity to learn coping skills. For example virtual reality programs have been utilized to provide patients 
    • Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – this therapy type is aimed to help adolescents and children
    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for PTSD – this therapy works to help a patient “reprocess the memory of the trauma so that it is experienced in a different way.”
    • Group Therapy – this therapy type focuses on group members sharing their experiences in a safe setting surrounded by individuals who have experienced similar 



Medication

This avenue of treatment is typically administered by a licensed psychiatrist 

    • SSRIs and SNRIs (alone or in combination with psychotherapy or other treatments)
    • Other medications may be used to treat a variety of symptoms



Alternative Treatments

    • Yoga
    • Animal-Assisted Therapy
    • Acupuncture
    • Dance/Music Therapy
    • Art Therapy
    • Peer Support Groups

Interested in learning more? Reach out to us via our Contact Us page or by calling 513-846-5283 to be matched with one of our licensed therapists to see what treatment options may be best for you.

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