Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Therapies - Essay Example

? Post Traumatic Stress Disorder therapies Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is mainly caused by past experiences of traumatic and life-threatening events such as war, rape and natural disasters like landslides and floods. Studies have indicated that individuals faced with traumatic events like 9/11 terrorist attacks and recent War in Iraq have higher chances of suffering from the disorder. Some of the symptoms include difficulties in sleeping, flashbacks, emotional numbness and increased anxiety. Several therapies such as humanistic therapy, cognitive-behavioral and drug therapies have been successful in treatment of the disorder. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder therapies Introduction Post Traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder which develops after an individual undergoes through life-threatening, terrible and unsafe experience. Some traumatic ordeals include physical assault, rape, and unexpected death of loved ones, natural disasters like floods, war and accidents (Stricker, Widiger & Weiner, 2003). Some symptoms of the disorder include nightmares, severe anxiety and uncontrollable thoughts about the life threatening event. The patient will avoid the place of the vent or things associated with the event (Stricker, Widiger & Weiner, 2003). Discussion The biopsychosocial model of mental health disorders can be used to explain the causes of PTSD. Both biological factors like genetics and environmental factors combine to determine the likelihood of an individual suffering from PTSD (Stricker, Widiger & Weiner, 2003). The social environment like child neglect, domestic violence and rape are some risk factors for the disorder. The higher the distress during traumatic experiences is the higher the likelihood of post traumatic disorders. Studies have indicated that residents of New York City suffered more disorders as the 9/11 attacks with the people who were the World Trade Center showing more advanced symptoms of the disorder. A more sensitive limbic system increases the risk since it increases the flow of stress hormones thus leading to frequent reoccurrence of the traumatic experiences and emotional numbness. A research on combat twins who did not experience combat indicated that genes play a role in the disorder since both had cognitive difficulties (Stricker, Widiger & Weiner, 2003). According to available statistics, 7% - 8% of the people in the United States are likely to suffer from the disorder in their life time. The prevalence is higher for combat veterans and rape victims since the percentage are between 10 % to 30 %. Symptoms of PTSD start within three months after the traumatic experience (Stricker, Widiger & Weiner, 2003). The symptoms can be classified in to three. The first ones are the relieving symptoms which include hallucinations, flashbacks, and nightmares. The second include the increased arousal symptoms which include difficulties in falling asleep, increased irritability and anger, overwhelming shame and feelings of guilt (Stricker, Widiger & Weiner, 2003). The third category of symptoms include avoidance symptoms like difficulties in maintaining relationships with other people, emotional numbness and avoidance of places and situations that may remind the person of the traumatic event. Some risk factors for PTSD include mental health complications, lack of good family support and traumatic experiences. This disorder exposes the individual to higher chances of eating disorders, suicide, depression and drug abuse (Stricker, Widiger & Weiner, 2003). The psychiatrist will diagnose the disorder according to the symptoms reported by the individual. The criterion is contained in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM). Some of the disorders diagnosed include flashbacks, memories of life threatening experiences and emotional numbness that last longer than one month (Stricker, Widiger & Weiner, 2003). There are different types of therapies that can be used in treatment and management of PTSD. Some of the therapies include psychoanalysis, behavioral therapy, humanistic therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. In this paper, we shall focus on the use of humanistic therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of PTSD. Humanistic therapy Humanistic therapy dates back to the 1990s after the development of psychoanalysis and behaviorism therapies. The therapy acknowledges that human thinking is influenced by the unconscious and surrounding environment (Neukrug, 2011). Humanistic therapy includes client-centered therapy which is based on the view that human beings have the right of self-determination (Neukrug, 2011). The psychologists establish an environment where the patient is free to express himself on his past traumatic experiences. This approach focuses on the patient history and how past events and experiences have contributed to their lives. This process encourages self-awareness and reflection allowing the patient an opportunity to move from reactionary behaviors to more self-aware thinking (Neukrug, 2011). This approach entails counseling the patient on the need to improve self-esteem and avoid feelings of shame and how to exploit their full life potential despite past traumatic events (Neukrug, 2011). The main purpose is to enable the person develop interpersonal skills in order to establish cordial relationships with other individuals in the society. a series of experiences whether controlled or uncontrolled have evidenced that humanistic therapies are effective in treatment of PTSD (Neukrug, 2011). For instance, a study of 100 treatment groups that participated in humanistic therapy found that it was effective in treatment of the disorder (Neukrug, 2011). Cognitive-behavioral therapy This is a relatively well structured type of psychotherapy. This involves teaching the patient skills pertaining to cognitive restructuring such as self-assertiveness and relaxation (Zayfert & Becker, 2008). This includes components of stress management where the patient is coached on anxiety response. Interpersonal training and self-dialogue are other essential skills which are taught to the patient. The cognitive procedures are geared at addressing issues concerning feelings of anger, guilt, and irrational beliefs of the patient (Zayfert & Becker, 2008). The behavioral component involves exposing the patient gradually to the events that led to the traumatic experiences. This usually conducted through use of modern imaging techniques or returning to the place of the traumatic experience (Zayfert & Becker, 2008). The main purpose of the exposure is to control the fear and overwhelming distress in the patient. For instances, raped women may perceive all men as untrustworthy thus a need of cognitive restructuring which aims at eliminating the negative thoughts. Stress inoculations in order to handle future symptoms and relapse preventing that may lead the patient to drug abuse are also included in this therapy (Zayfert & Becker, 2008). Generally, cognitive-behavioral therapy helps the patient modify his behaviors and cognitions in response to the traumatic memories by encouraging the patients to desist from fearing their traumatic stimuli. According to past studies, 65 % to 80 % of the patients who completed this therapy were later diagnosed and found with no PTSD (Zayfert & Becker, 2008). Conclusion Post Traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder which involves nightmares, insomnia and anxiety. The disorder is caused by both biological factors and environmental factors which include undergoing through traumatic experiences like War and physical assault. Some symptoms include nightmares, flashbacks, and feelings of shame, increased anxiety and avoidance of social relations with other individuals. Both humanistic and cognitive-behavioral therapies have proved effective in treatment of the disorder. References: Stricker, G., Widiger, T & Weiner, I. (2003). Handbook of psychology, clinical psychology. New York. John Wiley & Sons. Neukrug, E. (2011). Counseling theory and practice. Belmont. Cengage Learning. Zayfert, C & Becker, C. (2008). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for PTSD: a case formulation approach. New York. Guilford. Read More