Friday 26 October 2012

Acute stress reaction and post-traumatic stress disorder

  • Occur in individuals in response to exceptional physical or psychological stress

Acute stress reaction
  • Lasts a few hours/days
  • Initial state of 'daze'
  • Then a phase of either
    • Withdrawal/stupor or
    • Agitation/over-activity
  • Commonly associated with autonomic signs of anxiety

Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Delayed/protracted response to a stressful event
  • 'Flashbacks'
  • Intense distress in/avoidance of situations resembling the event (including anniversaries)
  • Emotional blunting/numbness
  • Detachment from others
  • Hypervigilance
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Occasionally suicide

Management
  • Counselling

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